A woman has been arrested on suspicion of child abduction after allegedly attempting to walk away with a baby in a pram on a busy street in Blackpool.
The alarming incident occurred around 11:55am on Central Drive, close to the popular tourist attraction Coral Island. According to Lancashire Police, the woman approached a pram left momentarily beside a street stall before allegedly pushing it away.
Footage Widely Circulated Online
Footage widely shared on social media shows a woman slowly approaching the unattended pram, which is identifiable by a side parasol. After appearing to linger for a moment, she begins to walk away while pushing the pram. Moments later, concerned passersby and the baby’s parent step in and recover the pram. The baby was reportedly unharmed.
Arrest and Police Statement
Following a swift response and subsequent enquiries, Blackpool Police confirmed they arrested a 51-year-old woman on suspicion of child abduction and police assault. She is currently in custody as investigations continue.
Chief Inspector John Jennings-Wharton of Lancashire Constabulary said:
“We know that something like this can be very concerning for the community to hear about. We are in the early stages of our investigation and are working to establish the full circumstances.
“We are aware of some social media posts that have been shared online. We’d encourage you not to speculate, and to understand that our enquiries are very much ongoing.”
Appeal for Witnesses and Information
Police have urged anyone with information or video footage of the incident to come forward. They ask that any evidence be submitted through official channels to aid the ongoing investigation.
