Children Found Abandoned in Southern Portugal
The mother and stepfather of two young French boys, who were discovered alone and crying by the side of a road in southern Portugal, have been taken into custody.
The children, both under the age of five, were located by a driver near the town of Alcacer do Sal on Tuesday, according to police reports.
They were carrying backpacks containing food and water but had no identification documents with them.
Background and Investigation
The boys' father had reported them missing from their residence in Colmar, located in eastern France, on 11 May. Subsequently, France issued a pan-European alert requesting assistance in locating the children.
Authorities in both Portugal and France have initiated investigations but have not yet reached any definitive conclusions.
Arrest of Suspects
Local media sources reported that the couple was apprehended after their vehicle was observed outside a café in the city of Fatima, approximately 180 kilometers (112 miles) north of Alcacer do Sal.
Portugal's National Republican Guard confirmed that officers arrested a 41-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man, though their identities have not been formally disclosed.
The couple is currently under investigation for alleged offenses including domestic violence, exposure to danger, and abandonment.
Immediate Response
The driver who found the boys stated that he provided them with food before notifying the authorities.
"The driver who found the boys said he fed them before alerting the police."
