Police are urgently trying to find the mother of a newborn boy after the baby’s body was discovered in a private garbage bin at a unit block in Sydney’s southwest.
The body of the baby was discovered in the bin at a property along Harrow Rd in Auburn on Monday.
Detective Acting Superintendent Darren Sly said the newborn was discovered by a local community member who was “putting rubbish inside the bins this morning”.
“It’s very traumatic for that particular lady,” Superintendent Sly said.
“At this stage we believe (the baby) was placed into a garbage-style plastic bag.”
Police hold grave concerns for the mother’s welfare and are urging her to go to the nearest hospital for urgent medical treatment.
“At this stage our number one priority and concern is for the welfare of the mother of this child,” Superintendent Sly said.
“If there was to be any police action, that is not our priority whatsoever … our only priority at the moment is for the welfare of the mother and that she goes immediately to hospital.”
Police do not yet know the identity of the newborn or the mother.
Investigators are also still trying to determine how long the baby had been in the bin, though Superintendent Sly said police believe “up to 36 hours”.
When asked whether police believed the baby had been delivered alive, he said that was not yet clear.
He described the discovery as “sad” and “horrific”, and said the officers involved were being supported.
“My officers are professional, they’ll do their jobs but like anybody they’re human,” Superintendent Sly said.
“We’re talking a newborn baby here … you’re going to have feelings about it … we will assist those police in anyway that we can.”
Local shop owner Mahmoud Houda, who runs the El Houda grocery store on Harrow Rd, said he heard sirens between 10.30am and 11am.
“Because I’m just down the road, I sort of walked into the middle of the street and I can see police cars pulling in,” Mr Houda told NewsWire.
“And because my kids go to the school right there, I called up to school trying to figure out if there’s something going on for the school and they just said, they don’t know what’s going on, they just have some police in their office.
“I actually drove up there, tried to ask the police officer if everything’s OK, if there’s anything wrong with the school and they told me just keep moving along.
“Ever since that, I’ve just seen the fire brigade go up there, and I think an ambulance, and that’s just about it.”
A crime scene has been established as detectives investigate the circumstances surrounding the newborn’s death.
Police have begun door knocking in the area and are seeking any information, CCTV, mobile phone footage or dashcam vision that could assist.
Superintendent Sly called on anyone who was in or around Harrow Rd and may have seen anything to come forward.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Auburn Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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