A female doctor has been arrested in Ireland after her autistic toddler was found knifed to death in their apartment.

Maha Al Adheem, a doctor in her early 40s, was also found with knife injuries at her home in Dublin and taken to hospital for life-saving surgery.

Her three-year-old son, Omar, had suffered stab wounds to the abdomen, legs and chest and died before medics arrived at the flat.

Female doctor Maha Al Adheem has been arrested in Ireland after her autistic toddler was found knifed to death in their apartment

The child's body was removed from the apartment in the morning as forensic examinations took place. It was taken away in an ambulance for a post mortem to be carried out

Forensics were seen inside the apartment yesterday as they investigated the circumstances surrounding the death

Ms Al Adheem was last night being treated at St James's Hospital, Dublin, after she underwent life-saving surgery on Monday night.

The Iraqi doctor phoned the emergency services shortly before 7pm on Monday.

Neighbours yesterday told how the first ambulance crew to arrive at the Riverside flat complex in Poddle Park, Kimmage, believed the boy had suffered a heart attack.

They tried to get into the locked apartment and called gardaí who broke the door down a short time later.

They then came on the horrific scene, discovering that Omar was already dead and his mother was suffering from stab wounds. It is believed the boy had been dead for a number of hours at this stage.

Ms Al Adheem's husband, with whom she is no longer in a relationship, was comforted by friends last night. He was told late on Monday night of the tragedy.

Flowers, toys and candles have been left at the scene of the stabbing in Dublin, Ireland

The three-year-old boy was found stabbed to death in an apartment in Dublin. Police and forensics were pictured at the scene yesterday

Gardaí at Crumlin were last night trying to establish what led to the violent episode.

A spokesman said: 'Gardaí investigating the homicide of an infant child that occurred on Monday evening, 10th July, 2017 have arrested a woman (early 40s) this morning in Dublin.

'The arrested woman is currently detained at Crumlin Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.'

Detectives were last night waiting for medics to give the okay to interview Ms Al Adheem.

It is understood she qualified as a doctor at home and previously worked in Syria. Omar was born in the Rotunda, Dublin, on January 9, 2014.

His father Khalid Omran, who registered the birth, was described as a student on the birth cert. Both parents lived at the one-bedroom flat in Poddle Park when Omar was born.

Gardaí at Crumlin were last night trying to establish what led to the violent episode

Although Ms Al Adheem was named as a housewife on the birth certificate, she later described herself as a doctor when she met Nessa Childers MEP on the campaign trail in Kimmage.

The encounter was recorded by an Irish Independent journalist who was with Ms Childers at the time.

Ms Al Adheem told the MEP that she had moved to Ireland in 2011 but couldn't find work as a doctor in this country.

She also complained about not being able to find a larger flat for her family because landlords wouldn't accept tenants in receipt of rent supplement.

She told Ms Childers: 'I worked as a doctor in Syria but cannot do so here, and I really want to work.'

As flowers and tributes to Omar were placed outside the complex yesterday, neighbours spoke of their shock after learning about the tragedy.

Vivian Costello, who lives across from the Riverside flats, said: 'The woman next door used to walk to the shops with them. She said the mum was a lovely lady and the little fella was a lovely wee fella.'

Touching tributes have been left outside the Riverside Apartment complex in Poddle Park

She said that sometimes she saw the father with the little boy on his tricycle, going up and down the street, adding: 'Everything looked lovely; they looked like a lovely family. It's just heartbreaking.'

Pointing towards the Garda forensics team at work across the road, Ms Costello added: 'You don't expect to look out of your front window and see this. I can only say that we are really sorry for the family and we are all so stunned.'

Lorraine Leon, who also lives across the road described Omar as a 'very lively' boy who was 'mad about my dogs'.

She said: 'He was gorgeous, beautiful. Big brown eyes, very lively, chatted. He would talk to you all the time.'

She added that his mother had appeared settled in the neighbourhood, saying: 'She had her friends and mixed in with the community.'