Children report attempted abductions

GARDAÍ are investigating reports of three attempted child abductions in a Dublin suburb over the past few days.

The reported abduction attempts happened in broad daylight in the Drimnagh and Crumlin area of south-west Dublin.

Two of the attempted snatches took place at lunchtime on Sunday and the third incident occurred about 4pm on Tuesday.

Senior officers have launched a major investigation and uniformed officers carried out door-to-door inquiries in the area.

Gardaí were looking for people who might have seen certain vehicles acting suspiciously on the days in question.

The first incident happened on Sunday in Drimnagh.

A car described as maroon or red approached two children and attempted to lure them inside.

They refused.

About 20 minutes later, two boys, aged nine and 11, said they were stopped by a man on Crumlin Road, about 10 minutes away.

The boys claimed they had to run to get away.

They claimed the man used a mobile phone and jumped into the passenger seat of what they described as a green car.

The boys said the green car reversed back up Crumlin Road after them, but lost them when they ran down a lane.

The children hid.

Gardaí believe the car may have been a BMW. They suspect the same car was involved in the two separate incidents, despite the different colour descriptions.

The third incident happened on Tuesday.

Gardaí received a report that a white van was acting suspiciously on Benmadigan Road and that occupants in it had approached children on the street.

Anyone with information is asked to ring Sundrive Station on 01 666 6600.