A mother has been charged with murder after reports that her 18-day-old baby had fallen from a building in Westminster on Saturday morning.

The baby was taken to hospital but sadly died.

Zahira Byjaouane, 43, of Horseferry Road, Westminster, was on Sunday charged with murder.

She has been remanded in custody, ahead of an appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The Met Police said: ‘At around 07.30hrs on Saturday, 14 March, officers attended Horseferry Road following reports that a baby had fallen from a height from a residential property.’

The force added: ‘The woman who has been charged was the mother of the baby.’

Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command are now leading an investigation.

Mourners left flowers and a toy animal where the 18-day-old girl fell to her death from her home on Saturday, as a woman was arrested for the child’s ‘murder’.

Flowers, including tulips and roses, and a soft toy animal were laid near the Peabody Estate building on Saturday
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Flowers, including tulips and roses, and a soft toy animal were laid near the Peabody Estate building on Saturday

Police stood guard beside a cordon in Horseferry Road in Westminster, London, following reports that a baby had fallen from a height on Saturday
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Police stood guard beside a cordon in Horseferry Road in Westminster, London, following reports that a baby had fallen from a height on Saturday

A forensic investigator was seen working at the window of a property on Saturday following the tragic death of an 18-day-old baby girl. The infant died after falling from a height
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A forensic investigator was seen working at the window of a property on Saturday following the tragic death of an 18-day-old baby girl. The infant died after falling from a height

This forensic officer was pictured at the scene near the junction of Great Peter Street and Horseferry Road in Westminster
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This forensic officer was pictured at the scene near the junction of Great Peter Street and Horseferry Road in Westminster

Flowers, including tulips and roses, and a soft toy animal were laid by mourners near the Peabody Estate building yesterday.

The police cordon, which covered most of Great Peter Street, just off Horseferry Road, was later lifted.

An officer in a blue forensic suit was seen on Saturday evening in a grey van parked down the road, which was closed off to traffic.

Two forensic officers could be seen working in the third-floor flat on Saturday evening.

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell said last night that the death of a baby is ‘always an extremely tragic occurrence’, adding ‘officers are making urgent inquiries around the circumstances’.

She continued: ‘At this stage we believe the incident occurred within a domestic context, but we are appealing for anybody with information to come forward.’

A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said the baby was treated at the scene before being taken to a major trauma centre.

Police urged anyone who witnessed the incident to call 101, quoting reference 1596/14MAR.