OR French justice today requested the cooperation of the Belgian authorities in an investigation into the abduction of a newborn, only 17 days oldfrom a maternity hospital in the Paris area by his parents, who may have already fled to Belgium.

“The significant work immediately carried out by forensic police investigators leads us to believe that the couple may have traveled to Belgium with the infant during the nightFrench prosecutor Eric Matte said in a press release about the ongoing gang-kidnapping investigation.

Santiago, a 17-day-old infant, was kidnapped by the his parents aged 23 and 25 on the night of Monday to Tuesday at the Robert Ballanger Hospital in Aulnay-sous-Bois, in the Paris region.

A very premature babywith his life expectancy without medical attention estimated at about 12 hours, according to a police source.

The abduction happened between 11.00pm and 11.30pm last night and the hospital became aware of it by disconnecting the heart rate sensors.

As it became known from a police source in Agence France-Presse, the law enforcement forces were notified in the afternoon by the staff of the neonatology unit about the disappearance of a premature infant, who needs constant medical care.

“The examination of the material by the cameras closed circuit confirmed that the parents left with some sort of black bag, possibly in a light-colored vehicle, with three other people in it“, the prosecutor said.

In the afternoon, neither the baby nor the parents had been located, it was learned from the justice system.

According to him prosecutor of Bobini (near Paris) both parents are “already known to the police and judicial authorities”, without giving further details. As part of this investigation into a kidnapping by a gang, investigators this morning arrested five people aged 16 to 29 on the outskirts of Paris and took them into custody, the prosecutor said. According to a source with knowledge of the case, those arrested belong to the “environment” of the parents, who are known to the police authorities and the judiciary.

The justice ordered the urgent repatriation of the infant, “if found”.

The criminal investigation continues “very actively, in cooperation with the judicial and police authorities of Belgium”, concluded Eric Maté.

“Santiago, a 17-day-old newborn boy with blond hair, wearing a brown t-shirt, size six months, and white plush pajamas was abducted from the maternity ward of the Robert Ballanger Hospital in Aulnes-sous-Bois,” a press release said today. of the Ministry of Justice, where it is specified that the premature infant needs “continuous medical care».

Searches were made at the homes of the parents, who live in the suburbs of Paris, as well as at the addresses of their family members, to no avail. In addition, the police tried in vain to contact the baby’s mother on the phone.