An Afghan boy found alone at London’s Heathrow Airport earlier this week has been placed in temporary council care while decisions are made about his future.

According to the U.K Standard the boy is thought to be about 12 years old. The child said his mother had planned and paid for his trip as she thought he would have a “better and safer” life in Britain.

The news outlet reported that following a family court hearing in London, it was decided that the boy should go into council care until a decision about his future has been made.

The court was told that it would not be possible to return the child to his mother in Afghanistan at this time, the Standard reported.

The boy has also not named.

"There is some uncertainty as to precisely how he arrived at Heathrow Airport, and what methods of transport he had between Afghanistan and the United Kingdom," said the judge.

"The whereabouts of his mother are unknown and it would be impossible to return [him] to her care in Afghanistan at this time."

The Standard reported that the judge said she had been asked to decide how the boy's welfare interests could best be met and that U.K Home Office officials would make decisions about his immigration status.