Santiago’s abduction: the circumstances surrounding his discovery in the Netherlands

After four days of anguish, Santiago, an infant born very prematurely and abducted from the maternity hospital in Aulnay-sous-Bois, has been found safe and sound. On Friday October 25, the Bobigny public prosecutor confirmed that the baby and his parents had been located in a hotel near Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.

Santiago safe and under medical supervision

According to the Bobigny public prosecutor’s office, the infant is “alive and under medical care”. Although the exact location of the hotel has not been specified, the authorities assure us that Santiago is in good health. Belgian Mons-Tournai prosecutor Vincent Macq expressed his satisfaction at the positive outcome, saying that the child had been found “alive and apparently in good health”.

Arrest of the parents and international collaboration

Amsterdam police have confirmed the arrest of the infant’s father and mother, suspected of organizing the kidnapping. Thanks to the use of telephone tools and the issuing of European arrest warrants, the French and Belgian authorities were able to collaborate closely with their Dutch counterparts. Vincent Macq emphasized that this exemplary operation of judicial cooperation should inspire future joint actions.

Investigation underway to understand the reasons for the abduction

Although the baby is now out of danger, the reasons for his abduction remain unclear. According to judicial sources, the young parents, aged 23 and 25, may have acted out of fear that their child would be placed under state protection. That same day, they had met with hospital officials to discuss the infant’s custody situation.

Accomplices arrested in France

Three relatives of the parents, including two men (one an adult and one a minor), were arrested in France on Tuesday. The latter, currently charged with kidnapping and confinement of a minor in an organized gang, had admitted helping the couple and their child in their initial flight to Belgium.