Icelandic police send child abandonment case to UK authorities

Police in South Iceland have completed an investigation into British parents suspected of leaving their five year old child in a rental car while they walked to Ófærufoss, a waterfall in the Nyrðri Ófæra river at Eldgjá. The case has now been referred to British authorities, mbl.is reported.

The incident occurred on August 9. A ranger in the area notified police the following day, prompting officers to search for the vehicle and contact other police districts to trace the travellers.

Police were unable to locate the couple because they had already left Iceland. Suspecting they were British tourists, the South Iceland police contacted the British embassy and worked with it on the case.

Íris Edda Heimisdóttir, chief superintendent with South Iceland police, said the investigation in Iceland was complete. Officers had interviewed witnesses and handed over evidence to the relevant authorities in Britain should they decide to pursue the case there.

Police obtained the names of the renters from an Icelandic car rental company. Heimisdóttir said the evidence would not necessarily be difficult to establish, noting that witness statements were available for consideration at a later stage.

She said the police had done everything they could and that protecting the child’s interests was the priority.