Police launch urgent appeal to find mother and newborn baby after woman gives birth in underpass - before being picked up by men in Transit van

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

An urgent appeal has been launched to find a mother and her newborn baby after a woman gave birth in an underpass before being picked up by to men in a van.
The Metropolitan Police say the female reportedly gave birth at the Billet Road underpass, in Walthamstow, east London at about 8am on Wednesday.
The 'distressed' mother - thought to be a 'rough sleeper' - was aided in giving birth by a Good Samaritan, who had heard her cries and stayed with her.
The new mother was later picked up by two men in a blue transit van about eight hours later, at around 4pm, police say.
It's unclear if the men were known to the female, who was wearing a black dress, heavy jumper and is believed to be called Anne Marie.
Officers are now 'extremely concerned' for the safety of the missing mother and her child and have launched a desperate appeal to find her.
PC Dan Cooper, from the Met's north east area local missing hub, said: 'Our top priority is to establish that the woman and her baby are safe and well and have access to any medical treatment they may need.
'I would like to stress that the woman is not in any trouble, our only concern is the wellbeing of her and her newborn child.
'We are carrying out fast-paced enquiries, including trawling CCTV, speaking to people in the area and visiting nearby hospitals.
'I'd also like to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen or heard something to come forward. Were you walking or cycling through the underpass or at the nearby Kwik Fit garage? If so, please get in touch with us.
'If the woman does not feel comfortable speaking to us, she can go directly to a medical centre or a charity.'
The Mail understands the incident took place close to the Kwik Fit tyre shop near the underpass.
Anyone with information should call the Met's local missing hub on 07881 330 956 or 101 quoting CAD 5617/30JUL.
Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.