‘We’ve got a kidnapping, murdering madman on the run’

THE “madman” accused of snatching a baby from a pram and killing her in Melbourne could have been captured on CCTV cameras.

Missing girl Sanaya Shaib Picture Facebook

A “MADMAN” accused of snatching a baby from a pram and killing her in Melbourne could have been captured on two CCTV cameras installed in the area if they were operational.

Sofina Nikat, 22, told police a shoeless man smelling of alcohol pushed her to the ground, grabbed her 15-month-old daughter Sanaya and ran off with her at Olympic Park in Heidelberg West, about 10am on Saturday.

The toddler’s lifeless body was found in Darebin Creek by a family of four assisting with the search, just before 3am on Sunday.

Ms Nikat said she never saw the face of the man, who she described as being of African appearance, between 20 and 30 years old and about 1.8m tall.

It’s understood there are two CCTV cameras on a trail bridge crossing Darebin Creek, which may have been paid for by Darebin Council and the nearby Northland Shopping Centre.

But it is not known whether they were working on Saturday, when Ms Nikat said the child was taken from her pram.

Darebin Council would not comment on what the cameras might have captured, if anything.

They have referred queries to Victoria Police.

Victoria Police would not be drawn on any questions in relation to her death this morning, citing an “ongoing investigation”.

There have not been any arrests in relation to Sanaya’s death.

An autopsy was expected to be carried out last night but the results are yet to be released.

Sanaya Shaib was found murdered at Darebin Creek.

THE SEARCH FOR CLUES

Detectives spent the weekend scouring the crime scene before searching a home where Sanaya and her mother Sofina Nikat, 22, had been visiting family.

Ms Nikat and Sanaya’s father had recently separated.

Police said Ms Nikat was taken away for welfare reasons not because she was a suspect.

Police said the abduction and murder was being treated as a “random attack”.

Detective Senior Sergeant Stuart Bailey earlier said the only suspect was the man that Ms Nikat said had pushed her from a park bench and snatched her daughter from the pram.

No other sightings of a kidnapper had been reported to police.

KILLER ON THE LOOSE

A Melbourne shock jock this morning told listeners there was an alarming absence of “hysteria in the town” despite there being a “kidnapping, murdering, madman” reportedly on the loose.

Tony Jones, filling in for Neil Mitchell on 3AW Mornings, said he was surprised by the reaction to Sanaya’s death.

“As it stands now, we’ve got a kidnapping murdering madman on the run and it’s something we should be screaming from the rooftops about,” he said.

“There should be some form of hysteria in the town, but I’m not sensing any of that.”

POLICE PRESENCE RAMPED UP

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane was asked on Monday whether people should be worried that a potential killer was on the loose. “We’ve certainly got more police out in that area - out at Heidelberg and around the parks - today and probably for the rest of this week just to reassure the community that we are there and that we’re taking every step we can to keep the community safe,” Mr Leane told 3AW.

The assistant commissioner said everyone in Melbourne was no doubt thinking of family and friends closely involved in this “terrible” incident.

He was also worried about police and other emergency services personnel working on the case.

“It’s a big shock to one’s system when dealing with a tragedy such as this,” Mr Leane said.

Police are continuing to speak with the toddler’s family.

Both parents were said to be extremely distressed and helping police.

Sofina Nikat (centre), whose 15-month-old daughter Sanaya Shaib was found murdered on Sunday, is led away from her home in West Heidelberg by two social workers. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Habib Ali told the Herald Sunhis family had been supporting his younger sister Ms Nikat after she had separated from her partner.

He said he first realised something was wrong when Ms Nikat returned from a morning walk with dirt on her clothing on Saturday.

“She came screaming and crying, she said, ‘Somebody’s snatched my baby’. She was mumbling, out of control.”

Ms Nikat told her uncle that she had been attacked by a man before he abducted her baby.

“He pushed her and she fell off the bench ... she fell to the ground,” Mr Ali said.

“The man unbuckled the pram, grabbed the baby and ran off towards the creek and the shopping centre.

“I believe her. It’s very frightening.”

Mr Ali said the family was devastated over Sanaya’s death.

“She was a very cute, a very good little girl,” Mr Ali said. “She was an angel. Sanaya didn’t deserve what happened to her.

“I remember she was always a very happy child.

“The police say it is suspicious. It is up to them now. Her mother is devastated.”

Tributes, flowers and teddy bears have been left at the scene.