Horror as 'human foetus' found on conveyor belt at factory

The factory where the discovery was made (Image: GOOGLE MAPS)

A factory has been forced to close after the shocking discovery of a "probable human foetus" on a conveyor belt. "Extremely shocked" staff at a waste sorting facility in Plouédern, situated near Brest in north west of France, made the horrifying find.

The discovery took place on the morning of Monday, December 8, 2025, at the TriGlaz facility, where workers encountered what was described as a body in a "degraded state of preservation" on the conveyor belt.

Brest's public prosecutor's office confirmed the discovery of "a probable human foetus in a degraded state of preservation and appearing to be at a fairly advanced stage of development".

The office revealed that the facility receives collections from three French departments: Finistère, Morbihan, and Côtes-d'Armor.

Brisach - France - 1 May 2018 - french gendarmerie patrol in lily of the valley party in the street (Image: Getty Images)

An inquiry into the remains - whose origins remain unknown - has subsequently been initiated.

The research team from Landerneau gendarmerie has taken charge of the proceedings and will attempt to establish the infant's cause of death.

Officers attended the location, subsequently joined by the criminal identification unit.

Stéphane Kellenberger, Brest's public prosecutor, also emphasised the significance of a forensic examination to determine whether the remains were a "developing foetus or a potentially viable newborn."

Additionally, plant operations were suspended, with workers receiving assistance from what was termed a psychological support unit, according to Fabrice Jacob, president of Sotraval, the company operating the facility.

close up of french police car (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Regarding the conveyor belt's purpose, accounts seem to vary, with 20 Minutes stating it's utilised for "sorting household packaging", whilst Le Télégramme describes its role as part of the sorting mechanism for recycling collections.

Currently, the child's identity remains unknown, though Le Télégramme reports gathering intelligence suggesting the remains may have come from the Morlaix region or Morbihan.

This comes after reports of another shocking incident from Tokyo, Japan.

Earlier this month, an infant's head and severed body parts were found inside a sex establishment's freezer.

The grim find was made on December 7 at the premises in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, when a cleaner accessed a refrigerator.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police revealed how the baby's head had been enclosed in a plastic bag.

Furthermore, the child's limbs had been stored in sealed containers, though the torso's location remains a mystery.

A social services statement revealed: "The only person in the store at the time was a male employee, who began cleaning the store around 8pm, and when he checked the refrigerator, he discovered the baby's head wrapped in a white plastic bag in the freezer compartment and reported it.

"Police who rushed to the scene found the severed arms and legs in a food storage container and inside the plastic bag. The arms and legs appear to be between a few months and less than a year old, and no external injuries were found other than the cut surfaces."