Baby boy dead after being thrown from Manchester bridge

The boy was thrown off the Blackburn Street bridge and into the River Irwell in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester. Image / Google Maps

A baby boy died after being thrown into a river from a Manchester bridge in front of horrified onlookers.

Police were questioning a man on suspicion of murder after the incident in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester.

The boy, said to be just under a year old, was pulled from the water by firefighters after witnesses raised the alarm shortly before 4.30pm yesterday.

He was given first aid at the scene and taken to hospital, but died a short time later.

Witnesses claimed the baby was thrown into the water in a Moses basket by his father after a row with his pregnant partner. They said the man then went to a nearby pub, the Lock Keeper, where he was arrested.

A relative of a member of staff at the pub said: "He came in and asked for a drink but said he had no money. Then loads of people came in screaming that there's a baby in the river.

"He sat there and stared, so the police were phoned and he just told a customer that he'd thrown his baby in the river."

Residents reported a huge emergency response including two fire engines, ambulances, multiple police vehicles and a police helicopter.

Some locals reported seeing what they thought was a doll in the water. Detective Superintendent Jamie Daniels, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "This is an incredibly tragic incident that has led to an innocent baby boy losing his life. Our thoughts are very much with his loved ones.

"A murder investigation is under way and we are working hard to piece together the circumstances that led to the baby boy ending up in the water."