A woman has been arrested in Blackpool after allegedly trying to walk off with a baby in a pram in a disturbing incident caught on video and widely shared on social media.
The incident occurred around midday on Central Drive, near the popular Coral Island attraction, and was quickly interrupted by the baby’s parents and concerned members of the public.
Footage circulating online appears to show a baby in a pram positioned beside a stall, shaded by a parasol.
Moments later, a woman can be seen approaching and beginning to push the pram away.
In a statement released by Blackpool Police on Thursday, authorities confirmed: “At 11:55am this morning, it was reported that a woman approached a baby in a pram on Central Drive, near to Coral Island, before attempting to walk away with the pram. Members of the public, and the baby’s parent, intervened, and thankfully the baby was unharmed.”
Police say a 51-year-old woman was arrested shortly after the incident on suspicion of child abduction and police assault. She remains in custody as investigations continue.
Chief Inspector John Jennings-Wharton reassured the community in a statement, saying: “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.”
He also addressed the spread of the video on social media: “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.”
Police are now appealing for further information and any additional footage. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has relevant evidence is urged to contact Lancashire Police through official reporting channels.
