The mother of a five-year-old boy who was seriously injured after falling from an apartment balcony at the weekend will be charged with attempted murder or manslaughter, the public prosecution department said on Thursday.

The investigation into the incident is continuing and the department has yet to decide which charge the woman will face.

The boy was taken to hospital after neighbours raised the alarm in Drinenstraat, Zutphen, at around 7.30 pm on Sunday. The woman was arrested at the time and was remanded in custody for a further 14 days at a court hearing on Thursday.  

Witnesses said the child had fallen from the fifth floor of the building, landing on a grass verge beside the road.

On Tuesday the child was released from hospital and is now in the care of social services.

Locals told broadcaster Omroep Gelderland that they had been extremely concerned about the boy’s safety earlier in the day. They also say the police had been at the apartment prior to the fall and had taken the mother and boy away.

“To our great surprise, they were back a couple of hours later,” one neighbour said.