A newborn baby girl was found dead in a rubbish bin inside a women’s bathroom at an Amazon distribution centre in Phoenix, Arizona.

Investigators have located and spoken with the baby’s mother, who is co-operating with officers, according to Phoenix Police Department.

Sgt. Vince Lewis said police were not commenting on whether the mother is an Amazon employee to prevent her identity from being revealed.

The Phoenix Police Department said it received a 911 call about a newborn baby found dead inside a women’s bathroom around 8.30pm on Wednesday. Firefighters responded to the call and confirmed the baby was dead.

A police investigation was opened in consultation with the Maricopa County medical examiner’s office.

Amazon has said it is working with authorities over the “tragic” incident. “This is a terribly sad and tragic incident. We are working with local authorities to support their investigation,” the statement read. “The safety and wellness of our team is our top priority.”

The Amazon warehouse remained in operation while the authorities were on the scene. The distribution centre is one of several company sites in Phoenix.

Under Arizona’s Safe Haven Law, people are able to safely turn over their babies—up to three days old—to any qualified childcare authority or health professional.

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In some hospitals, there are special drawers where people can leave their babies without having to speak or explain to anyone their reasoning.