Police investigate possible child abduction attempt

Tuesday 01 July 2014

Police are still appealing for witnesses after a woman tried to snatch a toddler in the Royal Square in broad daylight on Sunday lunchtime.

They have spoken to witnesses and are reviewing CCTV footage to try to find out exactly what happened and say that they are treating the incident "extremely seriously" but aren't yet calling it an attempted abduction.

The little one was chasing pigeons near the statue at lunchtime on Sunday when a woman took hold of her hand and went to take her out of the Square.

The parents of the 22-month-old stopped the woman before she walked off alone towards Queen Street.

The woman is believed to be about 50 years-old, around 5 foot 3 tall and with what the police are calling a "proportionate to heavy build". She was wearing a bright pink shell suit style top and cream or white-coloured trousers.

The police want to hear from anyone who saw the incident involving the toddler who was wearing a pink and white striped shorts outfit at the time.

Last week, in a similar case, detectives launched an investigation after reports that an elderly man approached a seven-year-old girl who had become separated from her friends while playing in the Maufant area. The girl was approached by an elderly man while she was walking home, and he took her by the hand.

Anyone with any information on either incident should contact the police on 612200, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.