Body found after children 'tossed into San Francisco bay'

Rescuers searching for three young children who were reportedly tossed in San Francisco Bay have found one body.

The child’s body was found about four hours after a witness reported seeing a woman drop the children into the bay near Pier 7, said Jonathan Guerra of the US Coast Guard.

The identity of the body could not immediately be confirmed.

Rescuers were still searching for other bodies. The search began at about 5.30pm yesterday (local time) when the unidentified man called emergency services to report seeing the woman drop the children into the chilly water near a popular waterfront stretch, said San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White.

Authorities were on the scene within four minutes to begin the search, Hayes-White said.

The children were believed to be under 10 years old, said Police Chief Heather Fong.

A woman was detained and questioned by police, but authorities were not releasing her identity, said police spokeswoman Maria Oropeza said.