Baby Left by Pond in Vienna-Favoriten: Police Located Parents

According to police spokeswoman Irina Steirer, the man, a 48-year-old Italian citizen, was apprehended at the Hütteldorf train station in Penzing on Saturday around 6:30 PM. The woman, a 30-year-old Ukrainian, was found by the officers shortly thereafter.

Passersby had already observed the woman at the pond in the Neilreichgasse area on Thursday evening, handling the eleven-month-old boy very roughly, repeatedly going into the water with the child in her arms, and even falling once while coming out. The passersby confronted the woman about her behavior. She then left with the little boy but left the stroller by the pond. Shortly thereafter, the man returned with the baby in his arms, placed him in the stroller, and told the witnesses he was going to look for his wife. Then he also disappeared, leaving the boy behind.

Baby Left Behind in Vienna-Favoriten: Interrogation on Sunday

The emergency services took the baby to a hospital for further care and examination. However, it did not show any apparent injuries. The investigation was taken over by the Southern branch of the State Criminal Police Office (LKA). The witnesses photographed the man. A search with the photo was revoked after the apprehension. The parents were interrogated on Sunday at the Southern branch of the LKA, according to Steirer.

The boy was doing well on Sunday, said Ingrid Pöschmann, spokeswoman for the city's Child and Youth Welfare (MA 11), to APA. The MA 11 has taken custody of the boy. The discovery of the parents initially has no impact on the further proceedings. The boy is to be placed in a crisis foster family on Monday. "Now we first have to ensure that the boy can calm down. The incident could have ended very badly for him," emphasized the MA 11 spokeswoman.

MA 11 Spokeswoman Pöschmann: Child Protection Comes First

In parallel, the proceedings continue, with the Child and Youth Welfare looking into how the child can grow up well and safely. It must first be clarified whether the two adults at the police are indeed the parents and what the motive for their actions was. "It is clear: Parenthood is a human right, but child protection comes first," explained Pöschmann.

The MA 11 representatives are also investigating whether there are other relatives in the family who can provide the boy with a secure home if this is not possible with the parents. It was still unclear on Sunday whether the family was already known to the Child and Youth Welfare. Pöschmann had already thanked those on Saturday "who reacted so quickly and saved the baby from worse. This is how child protection works, we look together, we react and act." The MA 11 also needs the public's attention for child protection, she appealed.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.