A newborn baby boy died in hospital after he was found outside an Islamic centre, a police spokesman said.
Officers were called to Beresford Street in the Shelton area of Stoke-on-Trent at about 10.30am on Saturday after the baby, which was wrapped in clothes, was discovered.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said the baby was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire where he died two hours later.
He said: "The scene around the centre has been sealed off to allow a detailed examination of the scene to take place."
Detective Inspector Dave Giles said: "We urgently need to contact the mother of the baby who may need medical treatment."
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