The Ministry of Social Affairs has taken custody of the two children of a mother who is suspected of killing her eight-year-old son.

The police arrested the woman, 38, for allegedly striking the boy with a hard object against his head, which resulted in his death last week, according to a recent report in a local newspaper.

Jeddah police will refer the case to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution this week after completing their investigation, which includes gathering evidence at the scene of the incident.

According to a social ministry official, the two children would remain under government protection until a decision is made regarding their mother.

Lt. Col. Ati Al-Qurashi, spokesman of Makkah Police, said police officers from Al-Salama station had found the child dead at the house of the woman. They had gone out to investigate after receiving a call that a child was being abused.

There has been a spike in domestic violence cases in the country recently.

There were 177 cases of violence against women and children registered at the Shariah Court in Jeddah last year. There were 12,000 cases registered in the Kingdom.