A couple has been arrested by police at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London on suspicion of conspiracy to abduct a child.
The incident happened last Monday afternoon.
Reports in the
Telegraph say that a 31-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman arrived at the neo-natal unit with a picture of a premature baby believed to be a printout from the internet.
It is reported that they told staff that their own baby was born at 21 weeks in a nearby hospital and transferred to Great Ormond Street.
They claimed they were there to collect their child. But when vigilant staff checked at the hospital, they found no records of that description and they immediately alerted police.
The couple were arrested and have been released on bail with the condition that they can't enter any hospital - unless it is an emergency.
A spokesperson for the Met Police said:
"The actions of the staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital in making all of the necessary checks and the quick response of police in arresting a couple prevented what could have been a very frightening and harrowing incident."
Great Ormond Street Hospital released a statement saying that "thankfully these situations are very rare" and they praised the quick-thinking staff involved.
The couple will appear in court next month.
