TORONTO — A 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy have been charged with abduction, robbery and other offences after a Toronto mother said two young people tried to snatch her baby.
It's alleged the pair grabbed the 29-year-old woman from behind late Thursday, assaulted her and demanded she hand over her money, cellphone and her daughter.
The pair attacked the woman "without any regard for the safety of the infant in her arms," and threatened to hurt the child, Insp. Art Little said Friday in a news conference.
The girl managed to grab the baby in the scuffle, but her mother quickly got her back, he said.
The young people kicked and punched the woman before fleeing, and were arrested shortly afterward, he said.
The mother suffered some bruising but the baby didn't appear injured, Little added.
The young suspects, who cannot be publicly identified because of their age, appeared in court this morning and remain in custody, the inspector said.
"This is an alarming situation for having the effort to abduct a child," he said.
That the accused are so young themselves is "a major cause for concern," he said. "This is unique in many officers' careers, including mine."
A psychiatric evaluation has been requested and children's aid is involved, he said.
Police said the incident happened around 11 p.m. Thursday in the east end of the city.
The young people are also suspects in a purse-snatching that allegedly took place earlier Thursday night.
