Belfast kids warned after attempted abduction

Schoolchildren in Belfast were warned to be vigilant today following a number of attempted abductions across the city.

In two separate incidents a man driving a small red car tried to lure schoolboys into a car in north and west Belfast.

The first incident happened on the New Lodge Road in the north of the city when man offered a lift to two pupils aged 12 and 14 from St Patrick’s College.

Across the city on the Grosvenor Road, a man tried to abduct a 10-year-old boy.

Police believe the two incidents may be linked and have appealed to parents to be on their guard.

They believe an old style Ford Fiesta may have been used in both occasions.

St Patrick’s College vice principal Tim O’Prey confirmed that two of his pupils ran off after they were offered a lift by a man yesterday morning.

“We alerted the boys this morning about the incident and asked them to be vigilant,” he added.

Mr O’Prey said that after they made the warning, another boy came forward and said that two men tried to entice him and his brother into a car on the Cliftonville Road this morning after asking if they were Catholics.

He said the two boys aged around 14 and 16 then ran off.

“We have an obligation to protect the children and we advised them to be very careful when they are approached by cars or on foot,” he added.