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Residents have spoken of their horror after a woman was arrested on suspicion of murder after an 18-month-old baby fell to his death from a sixth floor flat window.

Officers were called to Newcastle House, Barkerend, at about 5.10pm on Saturday following a report that an 18-month old male had suffered life threatening injuries at an address there.

Emergency services attended and it quickly became apparent a child had died at the scene after falling from a window on the 6th floor, West Yorkshire Police said. 

A full crime scene was established and enquiries are continuing.

Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is clearly an extremely traumatic incident and specially trained officers are working to support the child’s family members and those who witnessed what took place.

“ It is no exaggeration to say those who witnessed this incident will have been deeply traumatised by what they saw.

“A 23-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the baby’s fall and she is currently receiving medical assessment in custody.

“Although we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident I would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed what took place or have information who has not yet come forwards."

This morning, a police officer was standing on a landing of the Y-shaped block of flats.

Entry to Newcastle House, which has shops on the ground floor and seven storeys of flats above, is controlled by intercom.

Witness Danuta Tomaszewicz, 59, said the little boy was naked when her husband and a friend went to help.

She had been on her phone, looking out of the window from the first floor flat that they are decorating when she suddenly noticed the child on the ground below.

Mrs Tomaszewicz at first thought that it was a doll.

Her niece Monika Tomaszewicz said: "She realised it was a real baby when she saw he was trying to catch his breath and his belly was moving.

"She screamed for help and her husband and his friend ran downstairs.

"The friend took his shirt off because the baby was naked."

Another helper rang 999 and an ambulance arrived after around 20 minutes, the niece said.

As they waited the men tried to comfort the boy, holding his head and talking to him.

The witness wept as her niece said: "She could not sleep at all last night.

"She doesn't know how she is going to live here as every time she looks out of the window she will see the baby.

"They tried their best for the baby."

Andrew White, 53, lives on the same landing as the flat where the baby fell.

He said a couple with two young children live there.

Mr White, a father-of-three with four grandchildren, said: "They are a nice young couple who keep themselves to themselves which is normal here."

A retired resident on the same landing where the boy fell said he did not know the people involved.

He said: "There's quiet a high turnover of people in these flats, you wouldn't necessarily know your neighbours. I just keep to myself.

"There's babies and toddlers around and I have a four-year-old living above me.

"I don't think they should be living in high rises.

"When I moved in, in 2000, there was an age restriction and no-one under the age of 35 lived here.

"When it changed from the council to a housing trust, that restriction disappeared."

The resident saw police activity in the block on Saturday night but did not know what happened until he saw the news this morning.

"It's horrible," he said. "It's hard to take."

His living room windows - which offer views across the city to the football stadium - only open four inches, he said.

"It was blowing a gale and there was a lot of rain so I kept mine closed," he said.

Aneela Ahmed and Shakeela Lal, Labour councillors for the City ward, issued a joint statement.

They said: "We would just like to say how sorry we are to hear and read about the tragic death of this little boy.

"This is an ongoing police investigation and enquiry and we will wait to be briefed on it further by them in days to come.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved, the family of the deceased, the witnesses who helped and the emergency services who attended.

"We would encourage any witnesses who have any information, something they may have heard or seen prior to the incident to come forward, as even a little bit of information will help the police build a picture of the events leading to this tragedy.

"Please keep everyone involved and affected in your thoughts and prayers."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team on 101, quoting reference number 1506 of October 21, 2017.