Reports: Mother Allegedly Caught on CCTV Smothering Her Baby in Australian Hospital

BRISBANE, Australia -- A young mother allegedly was caught on videotape smothering her own baby in a Brisbane hospital, media reported Thursday.

In a statement, Queensland state police said a 21-year-old woman from Beenleigh, south of the state capital, Brisbane, was arrested and being questioned over the death of an 8-month-old boy at Brisbane's Mater Hospital early Thursday.

Local media reported the woman was the child's mother.

The infant was hospitalized Sept. 27 with injuries police suspected were caused ``by human intervention'' and was placed in a special intensive care monitoring unit, the police statement said.

The child suddenly fell ill Wednesday night and died early Thursday morning, police said.

``Police were called in to investigate the sudden death and have taken possession of video surveillance tapes,'' the statement added.

Detectives were charging the 21-year-old woman with murder, the statement said.