Kidnapped girl ‘reserved’ towards parents

THE young Austrian woman who endured more than eight years in captivity has adopted a “reserved attitude” toward her parents since her dramatic escape from her kidnapper last week, psychologists treating her said yesterday.

Experts who have been meeting with 18-year-old Natascha Kampusch since she bolted to freedom on August 23 told reporters she has been in regular telephone contact only with her mother and has not had any further contact with her father. The three had a tearful reunion when she escaped, and both parents have begged to be able to see her again.

Monika Pinterits, a lawyer who specialises in representing traumatised young people, said Ms Kampusch might not decide for weeks or months whether to live with one of her parents.