An investigation is underway after the discovery on Monday evening of the body of a newborn baby in a sports bag that was floating in a canal in Grande-Synthe (North), we learned Tuesday from the Dunkirk prosecutor's office, confirming information from the Dunkirk Lighthouse. The medical examiner came to the scene on Monday evening, but at this stage "it was not possible to determine whether the child was born at term or whether it was premature" or "the date of death", the prosecution told AFP.
An investigation opened to determine parentage and the causes of death
An investigation was opened for "research of the causes of death" and "criminal investigations are underway" in particular to try to seek "the filiation of this infant". An autopsy should take place soon to identify "the stage of maturity of this child" and "determine the causes of death".
These are children "who carried out the repatriation of the bag on the bank" while it "stagnated in the water", added the prosecution. Upon discovery of its contents, a child warned his mother who herself "called the police".