Mother and Stepfather Arrested After Toddlers Found Abandoned in Portugal

The mother and stepfather of two young French boys discovered alone and distressed by the side of a road in southern Portugal have been arrested.

The children, both under five years old, were found by a driver near the town of Alcacer do Sal on Tuesday, according to police.

They were carrying backpacks containing food and water but had no identification documents.

The boys’ father had reported them missing from their home in Colmar, eastern France, on May 11, and France issued a pan-European alert for assistance.

Police in Portugal and France have launched investigations and stated they have not reached any conclusions at this stage.

Local media reports indicate the couple was arrested after their vehicle was spotted outside a cafe in the city of Fatima, approximately 180 kilometers (112 miles) north of Alcacer do Sal.

Portugal’s National Republican Guard said its officers arrested a 41-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man, though they have not formally identified the pair.

Authorities said the couple is being investigated on suspicion of domestic violence, endangering others, and abandonment.

The driver who discovered the boys provided them with food before notifying police.