Police Service of Northern Ireland were called to The Park Centre, a shopping centre near Gaeltacht Quarter, Belfast, where it is alleged someone lifted a baby out of a pram
A woman has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping after someone allegedly “grabbed a baby from pram and ran from a shopping centre” today.
It is claimed someone was seen lifting a baby from a pram and attempting to run towards the exit of The Park Centre, a shopping centre near Gaeltacht Quarter, Belfast, this afternoon. However they were stopped by security, and the shopping centre was shut down for a brief period, it is understood.
A 38-year-old woman has since been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and is currently in custody, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said. Officers were called to The Park Centre at around 3pm today to the reports of the attempted kidnap.
“Police have arrested a 38-year-old woman on suspicion of kidnapping, she is currently in custody assisting police with their enquiries,” a spokesperson for PSNI told Belfast Live. The publication says security staff dashed to stop the person with the baby before they could flee the development.
No further details of the woman, such as where she is from, or details around the alleged attempted kidnap are clear at this stage. The police investigation in Belfast continues.
The Park Centre, which was founded in 1985, has 35 shops, including JD Sports, Poundland and Specsavers. In the spring of 2018, an investment of £3million was announced which included the creation of a B&M Bargains and a Home Bargains superstore.
It is the southwest of Belfast, just off the M1 at junction one and near Belfast City Hospital. The shopping centre is a short distance from the Balmoral area of Northern Ireland’s capital.