Woman arrested on suspicion of murder after baby girl falls from property

The 43-year-old was arrested at the scene in Westminster, central London.

By contributor Ted Hennessey and Helen William, Press Association
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Supporting image for story: Woman arrested on suspicion of murder after baby girl falls from property
The incident took place in Westminster (Lucy North/PA)

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a baby girl fell from a property.

The Metropolitan Police said officers attended Horseferry Road in Westminster, central London, after reports on Saturday morning that a baby had fallen from a residential property.

The baby girl – aged 18 days – was taken to hospital and was pronounced dead.

A 43-year-old woman was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and taken into police custody.

A forensic investigator at the scene near the junction of Great Peter Street and Horseferry Road in Westminster
Forensic investigators are at the scene (Lucy North/PA)

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell said: “Our thoughts today are with the baby’s family.

“The death of an infant is always an extremely tragic occurrence, and officers are making urgent inquiries around the circumstances.

“At this stage, we believe the incident occurred within a domestic context, but we are appealing for anybody with information to come forward.”

The police cordon covered most of Great Peter Street, which is just off Horseferry Road, on Saturday evening.

A forensic investigator at the window of a property
A woman has been arrested (Lucy North/PA)

An officer in a blue forensics suit was seen in a grey van parked partway down the road, which was closed to traffic.

Passers-by were diverted around the taped cordon.

Two forensics officers could be seen working in a third floor flat in the Peabody Estate.

A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said the baby was treated at the scene before being taken to a major trauma centre.