This week, two terrifying abduction attempts near schools within a six-mile radius in Greater Manchester have struck fear into parents. On Tuesday morning, an 11 year old girl narrowly escaped an assailant near Flixton Girls School, Urmston, only to be followed by another chilling incident on Thursday when a child was aggressively “grabbed by the throat” close to Moorlands Junior School, Sale.
No arrests have been made as yet, and police are currently not linking the incidents. While officers did receive reports of “suspicious males” around the first school on Tuesday, it’s not confirmed if this relates to the attempted abductions. Nevertheless, the young girl from the initial scare managed to break free and find an adult to report the encounter.
Moorlands Junior School immediately notified parents and guardians about the dangerous situation, urging them to ensure children are picked up and dropped off directly at the school gates. The alert highlighted the severity of the incident: “We have just been informed of a very nasty incident where a stranger has grabbed hold of one of our children by the throat, on Broad Road, as they were walking home. This was unprovoked.”
Following suit, nearby St Anne’s CofE school also communicated the imminent threat to its community. With the investigation ongoing, authorities are appealing for continued vigilance among residents, reports The Mirror.
An investigation has been launched after a child was reportedly approached by a stranger in Urmston. The incident has been reported to the police, and parents have been advised to drop off and pick up their children from school while the investigation is ongoing.
According to Manchester Evening News, police have carried out CCTV enquiries in connection to the Urmston incident. Detective Superintendent Alicia Smith, of Greater Manchester Police, stated: “Protecting children is our top priority and we investigate safety concerns swiftly and with vigour.
“We understand concerns are being raised in the community and over social media. We have chaired a partnership meeting this afternoon, and are closely aligned with the local authority and schools in the area. We would like to remind members of the public to avoid spreading information online that may not be true.
“We encourage anyone with concerns to contact the school directly if it relates to them or report it to police on 101 and we will investigate. There will be an increase in neighbourhood officers patrolling around schools during key times to provide visible reassurance.”