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First picture of mother and baby reunited after car-jacking terror in Birmingham

Clare O'Neill reunited with her baby Eliza: West Midlands Police
Clare O'Neill reunited with her baby Eliza: West Midlands Police

This is the first picture of a mother and her four-week-old baby reunited after a terrifying car-jacking ordeal.

Clare O’Neill had just arrived at her Birmingham home on Thursday afternoon when two men demanded the keys to her car.

She frantically tried to get baby Eliza out of the back but the thieves drove off, leaving her injured.

A major search operation was launched in the Acocks Green area, with dozens of officers involved in the hunt.

Police said four-week-old baby Eliza was still in her car seat when she was found (West Midlands Police)
Police said four-week-old baby Eliza was still in her car seat when she was found (West Midlands Police)

Forty-five minutes later the baby was found by an ambulance crew at a health centre five miles away.

Police said Eliza was still in her car seat and blissfully unaware of the drama she had been involved in.

She was reunited with her mother a short time later in hospital, where Ms O'Neill is recovering from her injuries.

Detective Inspector Jim Munro, of West Midlands Police, said: "This incident has shocked the whole of our force area and we will leave no stone unturned in our search for the offenders

"We have a team of officers trawling through CCTV and speaking to residents in Marie Drive, as well as fast-tracking forensic analysis of the baby seat.

"We are asking anyone who may have seen the grey Audi A3 S-line with registration number BJ66 YLV since yesterday afternoon to contact us.

"We are delighted that mother and baby have been re-united and we wish Clare a speedy recovery."

Officers are continuing to search for the grey Audi A3 S Line, which has the registration number BJ66 YLV.