Murder inquiry launched into toddler's death

Detectives have launched a murder inquiry after the death of a 21-month-old baby boy.

Police arrested two people, one believed to be the child's mother, after being alerted by hospital staff.

Officers interviewed the pair, a 29-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, on two separate occasions before releasing them on bail yesterday.

Scotland Yard said the baby died in Sidcup, south-east London, on Monday.

A post-mortem examination at Great Ormond Street Hospital the next day revealed that the cause of death was multiple injuries.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "The death is being investigated by the child abuse investigation command major investigation team based at East Ham. It is being treated as murder.

"A 29-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were arrested on December 29 and were bailed.

"They were re-arrested on December 31 and bailed to return to a south London police station in February."

Scotland Yard refused to confirm the identity of the baby or those arrested.