London: Woman attempts to throttle baby in front of its mother in Boots on the Strand

Westminster police have released CCTV footage of a woman who tried to throttle a one-year-old baby boy in front of his mother, inside a branch of Boots in the Strand.

Footage shows a woman enter the shop at around 12.30pm on Friday, 16 January, before casually walking up to a mother's pushchair and grabbing the baby's throat.

The mother of the baby had originally thought that the suspect was going to just look and fuss over her baby, but when she saw what was actually happening, she immediately grabbed the suspect's hand to prevent the assault from continuing.

The suspect then uttered the words "that baby would rather be dead" as she was escorted out by a security guard at Boots. She then proceeded to walk off towards Trafalgar Square.

The baby was not injured thanks to his mother's quick reaction, however she was extremely shaken up and traumatised by the incident.

The suspect is described as a white woman in her early 60s, 5ft 2ins tall, of chubby build, with light coloured hair and a boil or eye deformity on her face. She wore a deer stalker hat and a distinctive white, red and grey stripped poncho top with a brown handbag and black boots.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, was in the area at the time or has information that could assist officers is asked to call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.