French couple arrested after babies' remains found

A French couple has been taken into custody as part of a probe opened after the remains of five infants were found in their home in southeastern France, judicial sources said on Wednesday.

The remains were found in boxes at a home in the town of Orange on Monday, a day after the 32-year-old woman gave birth to a healthy boy at home before being taken to hospital.

The 32-year-old man she lived with had been "troubled after discovering once again very late that his partner was pregnant" and had conducted a search of their home in the historic city centre, finding "what looked like human remains".

He told the hospital, which informed the prosecutor's office.

Local media said the couple were taken into custody on Wednesday.

A forensic doctor said the remains likely belonged to five newborns, with further autopsies to be carried out.

The couple also had two children aged eight and nine, who have been taken in by relatives. The newborn was placed with social services, the prosecutor's office said.