Horror as burned foetus found in Phoenix tent city known as ‘The Zone’

A foetus was found dead and burning in a street fire in one of America’s largest homeless encampments after emergency crews were called to reports of an “injured child”.Police in Arizona received a call about an endangered child in downtown Phoenix, close to the state’s largest homeless camp known as “The Zone”, where eyewitnesses say “anything can happen”, in the early hours of Saturday.When they arrived they found the burned foetus that is believed to be around 20 to 24 weeks, according to police.One witness told a neighbour that he and his fiance made the grisly discovery after seeing someone lighting a fire in the street. When the couple attempted to put out the flames they saw the charred remains.”[He told me] his fiance came and was trying to put the fire out, and then he went to stomp on it to put it out and realised it was a baby in there,” neighbour Joel Coplin told News 12.He added: “He saw the head, a perfectly shaped head, and little arms, hands, legs, chest. He grabbed his fiance and turned away so she wouldn’t see it, and he was freaked out. He called 911.” The sprawling tent city known as ‘The Zone’ has been plagued by crime and drugs. (Image: Google Maps) The encampment is a short distance from luxury apartments and high end restaurants. (Image: GETTY)Coplin’s home overlooks the street where the foetus was found, just west of the homeless encampment.He said: “Anything can happen around here. We’re right down here in ‘The Zone’, and anything and everything does happen. It’s just unconscionable.”The foetus was pronounced dead at the scene, Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death.Homelessness in Phoenix is on the rise, with an estimated 3,096 sleeping rough this year alone.”The Zone” is in an area surrounding Phoenix’s Human Services Campus which contains a homeless shelter, soup kitchen and other services for the homeless.READ MORE: Two planes collide midair sparking huge fireball explosion Police were called to reports of an ‘injured child’ near the encampment. (Image: News 12) Phoenix is spending millions of dollars in an attempt to tackle soaring homelessness. (Image: GETTY)It isn’t far from the State Capitol complex and is nestled in a neighbourhood a short distance from luxury apartments and high end restaurants in downtown Phoenix.At one point this year, more than 1,000 people were living in the encampment which business owners and residents have said is plagued by drugs, crime and dire living conditions. Just over a year ago, around 300 people lived in the tent city.Phoenix officials have designated $50million to help address the growing homelessness crisis. There are plans to spend $27.9million on a new shelter to sleep 100 and add 175 new beds at Central Arizona Shelter Services.The city is also spending millions on rapid rehousing, outreach and mental health services.