Three abandoned infants found to have same parents

Three newborn babies found dumped in parks in east London over the past seven years share the same parents, it has been revealed - as the Metropolitan Police continue the search for those who abandoned the infants.

- CALLUM PARKE ALEX ROSS

DNA tests presented at a hearing at East London Family Court proved that a baby girl found by a dog walker in Newham earlier this year is the sister of two other babies, a boy and a girl, found in similar circumstances in 2017 and 2019.

The baby, named Elsa by hospital staff, was less than an hour old when she was found in a shopping bag in sub-zero temperatures on 18 January. Her brother, who was named Harry, was found abandoned in a park in Plaistow in 2017, and her sister, called Roman, was discovered in a park in Newham in 2019.

At the family court hearing this month, Judge Carol Atkinson said the story was of "great public interest" as she amended restrictions to allow reporting of the relationship between the children.

The Met Police have not yet been able to identify the parents, despite several public appeals over the children, who have all survived: the eldest two have been adopted, while Elsa is still in foster care. Judge Atkinson said she hoped that identifying the children's relationship could help the Met in its investigation to find the biological parents.