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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/20/first-picture-mother-injured-birmingham-carjackers-drove-baby
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| Mother says thieves who ran her over knew her baby was in car | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The mother of a four-week-old baby taken in a carjacking has said the car thieves were fully aware her daughter was in the car and that they deliberately ran her over as she tried to stop them. | |
| In a statement released by West Midlands Police on Friday, Clare O’Neill said she was thankful her daughter was returned to her safe and well, but added: “I am still extremely shaken about what has happened and we as a family are still trying to come to terms with what has happened.“Eliza is thankfully safe and well, but the people responsible clearly knew she was in my car when it was taken, putting the life of our four-week-old baby at risk as a result of their personal greed.” | |
| The mother and daughter have now been discharged from hospital after the incident in Birmingham on Thursday. O’Neill sustained facial injuries, bruising and a broken tooth. | |
| “This was caused by the wheel of my car running me over whilst I battled to stop my daughter being taken. Due to the injury to my arm I am now unable to hold Eliza for the next four or so weeks,” she said. | |
| “I am appealing for people to come forward with any information about who is responsible or behind this. The life of my daughter was endangered by the reckless behaviour of those involved. Please come forward and assist the police with their enquiries.” | |
| O’Neill, 39, pulled up on her drive in Acocks Green, Birmingham, at 4pm on Thursday and was approached by two men. As she fought to get her daughter out of the car, the men drove off. | |
| West Midlands police began a search for the baby, and 45 minutes later an ambulance crew at Small Heath health centre recovered her safe and well, still in her car seat. | West Midlands police began a search for the baby, and 45 minutes later an ambulance crew at Small Heath health centre recovered her safe and well, still in her car seat. |
| Witnesses told the Birmingham Mail: “I heard someone shouting: ‘My baby, my baby.’ I thought it was a domestic. Two cars sped off out of the street, her car following another car very closely behind. They were so close you couldn’t see the front licence plate on her car. | |
| “I saw the car they arrived in but only one person was in it, so whether the accomplice was lying down or already on the street I don’t know. The woman was injured. She had abrasions on her legs and face.” | “I saw the car they arrived in but only one person was in it, so whether the accomplice was lying down or already on the street I don’t know. The woman was injured. She had abrasions on her legs and face.” |
| Neighbours rushed out to help O’Neill. Kanu Chavda, 68, said he and his wife heard screaming and shouting outside their home. | Neighbours rushed out to help O’Neill. Kanu Chavda, 68, said he and his wife heard screaming and shouting outside their home. |
| “When she looked out the window she saw a struggle going on. All of the residents came out and the mother was on the floor. She was bruised and bloodied,” he said. | “When she looked out the window she saw a struggle going on. All of the residents came out and the mother was on the floor. She was bruised and bloodied,” he said. |
| “She said her baby had been snatched by two guys, with one wearing a black hood. I’ve lived here for 30 years and never known anything like this.” | “She said her baby had been snatched by two guys, with one wearing a black hood. I’ve lived here for 30 years and never known anything like this.” |
| DI Jim Munro said: “This incident has shocked the whole of our force area and we will leave no stone unturned in our search for the offenders. We have a team of officers trawling through CCTV and speaking to residents in Marie Drive, as well as fast-tracking forensic analysis of the baby seat. | DI Jim Munro said: “This incident has shocked the whole of our force area and we will leave no stone unturned in our search for the offenders. We have a team of officers trawling through CCTV and speaking to residents in Marie Drive, as well as fast-tracking forensic analysis of the baby seat. |
| “We are asking anyone who may have seen the grey Audi A3 S-line with registration number BJ66 YLV since yesterday afternoon to contact us.” | “We are asking anyone who may have seen the grey Audi A3 S-line with registration number BJ66 YLV since yesterday afternoon to contact us.” |
| He added: “We are delighted that mother and baby have been reunited and we wish Clare a speedy recovery.” | He added: “We are delighted that mother and baby have been reunited and we wish Clare a speedy recovery.” |
| The force tweeted a photograph with the message: “First pic of mum Clare O’Neill and baby Eliza released after terrifying #AcocksGreen carjacking ordeal.” | |
| Neighbours said the family were expected home on Friday evening. Other locals turned up to leave flowers and clothes for the baby. Claudia Gardner, 43, had bought trousers for Eliza and said she had been kept awake all night thinking about the attack. | Neighbours said the family were expected home on Friday evening. Other locals turned up to leave flowers and clothes for the baby. Claudia Gardner, 43, had bought trousers for Eliza and said she had been kept awake all night thinking about the attack. |
| She left a note reading: “This is just to say that people out there are thinking about you, your baby and your family and are shocked by the horrendous incident you had to endure.” | She left a note reading: “This is just to say that people out there are thinking about you, your baby and your family and are shocked by the horrendous incident you had to endure.” |
| Patients at the health centre praised two receptionists who found the baby. One said they managed to calm the child before calling police. “They were so calm and really looked after the baby. She was in safe hands,” said the patient, who did not want to be named. | Patients at the health centre praised two receptionists who found the baby. One said they managed to calm the child before calling police. “They were so calm and really looked after the baby. She was in safe hands,” said the patient, who did not want to be named. |
| The baby was examined at the health centre before being taken to Birmingham’s Heartlands hospital as a precaution. | The baby was examined at the health centre before being taken to Birmingham’s Heartlands hospital as a precaution. |
| On Tuesday another Audi S3 was stolen in a carjacking six miles away, in the Nechells area of the city. CCTV footage showed a young mother fleeing with her daughter, two, in Jameson Road at 1.30pm. | On Tuesday another Audi S3 was stolen in a carjacking six miles away, in the Nechells area of the city. CCTV footage showed a young mother fleeing with her daughter, two, in Jameson Road at 1.30pm. |
| The carjackers had staged an accident and then jumped in the car as the father got out of the vehicle. West Midlands police said it was not yet known whether the two incidents were linked but it was one line of inquiry. | The carjackers had staged an accident and then jumped in the car as the father got out of the vehicle. West Midlands police said it was not yet known whether the two incidents were linked but it was one line of inquiry. |
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