Newborn Baby Santiago Abducted by Parents from French Hospital, Search Expands into Belgium

Authorities in France and Belgium are intensifying their efforts to locate a newborn baby, Santiago, who was abducted by his parents from a hospital in Aulnay-sous-Bois, near Paris, on Monday, 21 October.

Santiago, who was born prematurely and requires urgent medical attention, was taken around 23:00 by his parents, who reportedly hid him in a bag. The abduction has triggered a cross-border search, with Belgian authorities joining the investigation.

Digital notice boards along Belgian motorways have been used to circulate alerts, an exceptional measure taken at the request of French authorities who suspect the parents fled to Belgium overnight.

The motorway alerts displayed: “Child Alert, Blue Audi GR 956 ZV (FR),” indicating the number plate of the vehicle used by the parents.

According to local reports, the “Child Alert” system has been employed only twice before in Belgium, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Santiago’s parents, a 23-year-old father and a 25-year-old mother, were spotted on hospital surveillance footage leaving the premises with their child. The footage showed the parents carrying a bag in which Santiago was believed to be hidden.

Both parents’ descriptions, along with details about Santiago, have been widely circulated. At the time of his abduction, Santiago was wearing a brown T-shirt sized for a six-month-old and white velvet pyjamas.

His father was seen in dark jeans, a white T-shirt, a light blue jean jacket, and a black coat, while his mother wore a white jumper, a green skirt, and a light blue sleeveless jacket.

On Wednesday morning, around 11:30, the dark blue Audi A4 was found in the Charleroi region of Belgium. However, Santiago and his parents were not present in the vehicle.

Belgian broadcaster VRT NWS confirmed that the car was empty, leaving authorities with no immediate leads on the family’s whereabouts.

Belgium’s Child Focus and the Federal Police are also aiding the search by issuing missing child alerts across their platforms, urging witnesses to come forward with any information that may help locate Santiago.

The public is advised not to approach the parents if they are seen but to contact authorities immediately through the emergency number 116 000 or the freephone number 0800/30 300.

The motive behind the parents’ decision to take their child remains unclear, although French media has reported that the couple may be known to law enforcement.

The incident has taken a new turn with the arrest of five individuals, aged between 16 and 29, in Livry-Gargan, northeast of Paris. French authorities suspect that these individuals are close friends of the parents and may have been involved in aiding their escape.

As the search for Santiago intensifies, law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border continue to focus their efforts on finding the newborn and ensuring he receives the medical care he desperately needs.

The international nature of the investigation highlights the urgency and gravity of the situation, as Santiago’s condition could deteriorate without timely medical intervention.