Police are believed to have CCTV of a mother who left her baby in a shopping bag when she less than an hour old in east London.
The little girl, who has been named Elsa by hospital staff, was found in freezing temperatures of -4C by a dog walker in East Ham on Thursday, January 18.
Officers have obtained video of a black woman with a rucksack on her back entering the Greenway from the High Street South entrance at around 8.45pm. A witness may have seen her.
Baby Elsa was discovered 30 minutes later wrapped in a towel in a re-usable shopping bag.
Detectives said the dog walker kept the infant, who is believed to be black or mixed race, warm with blankets.
Elsa, probably born after a concealed pregnancy, has now left hospital and Newham Council are looking after her in foster care.
Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Simon Crick, head of policing in Newham, said: “Baby Elsa is safe and well.
“My team are continuing their work. We’ve collected a considerable volume of CCTV footage.
“While we’re still examining it in detail, we have identified a woman we would like to speak to, and a witness who may have seen her.
“We believe the woman is black, was wearing a large dark coat with a light coloured scarf or hood around her neck and had a rucksack on her back.”
He added: “A week on, I firstly want to thank media and the public who have shared our appeal up and down the country.
“I know how concerned everyone is for Baby Elsa, and her mother’s welfare.
“Since our first appeal we’ve had 17 reports from the public sharing information and I can assure people that every single one is assessed and progressed where that information is thought helpful.”
The witness is believed to be male and wearing a dark coloured hooded coat with a backpack.
His coat or backpack had a reflective strip on the rear of it and he exited The Greenway to the left at around 9.10pm.
Det Supt Crick said: “If you have information about these people – or you think I might be describing you – I urge you to please, please contact us immediately.
“It could turn out that you have nothing to do with it but, it’s still incredibly helpful for us to know so we can focus our efforts on other avenues instead.
“We’re drawing on support from across the Met and following a number of leads.
“We’ve carried out door-to-door enquiries, spoken to many local people, and visited local businesses. As always we welcome any new information, no matter how insignificant it might seem.
“We’ve also spoken to local hospitals, social workers and local charities.
“All of the information we have so far suggests it’s highly likely Baby Elsa was born after a concealed pregnancy and was not a service user of these agencies.
“I want to appeal directly again to Baby Elsa’s mother. Your daughter is safe and well, but we need make sure that you are too. You might need urgent medical care and support, and we can help you. Please call 999 and speak to us, or go to hospital.
“Lastly, I’d like to say that although comments online have been largely incredibly kind, supportive and understanding, there have been a small number of abusive and negative comments that are both unnecessary and unhelpful.
“All of us are looking at this from a position of privilege in that we have no idea what Baby Elsa’s mother is going through.
“Please consider what you post – and the possibility that she might even read it – and help us with our primary aim of identifying her to make sure that she’s OK.”
