A Dutch woman has been arrested for allegedly killing four of her babies over the last eight years, hiding their remains in suitcases in the attic, investigators said yesterday.

“A 25-year-old woman from Nij Beets (in the northern Friesland province) was arrested on Wednesday ... on suspicion of infanticide,” prosecuting official Annette Bronsvoort told a press conference.

Police subsequently found four suitcases, each containing the remains of a baby, in the attic of the house where the woman lived with her parents.

Police chief Wim van Essen said an investigation was started after it was reported to police that she had no children despite having been pregnant several times between 2002 and 2010.

On being questioned, the woman first told police she had given her children up for adoption but could not show the documents to prove it – leading to her arrest.

The woman then told police that she was “keeping them” in separate suitcases in the attic, which led to Thursday’s house search.

Ms Bronsvoort said initial investigations showed that three of the suitcases contained the remains of babies.

In a statement issued about two hours after the press conference, the prosecuting authority said the fourth suitcase was also found to contain a baby’s remains.

Further investigations “will have to determine the cause of death and also answer the question whether the babies were dead at birth”, said Ms Bronsvoort.

The woman was brought before a judge yesterday, who ordered that she be held in custody for 14 days pending further investigation.

Her parents, who claim they were unaware of their daughter’s pregnancies, were not considered suspects in the case, Police Chief Van Essen said.

Mayor Francisca Ravestein said the community was “very shocked” by the events, adding: “There are so many questions.”

A community meeting is being held today.