Urgent warning as 'six suspicious males' spotted after 'attempted abduction' of schoolgirl
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Police have received six separate reports of "suspicious males" following an "attempted abduction" of a schoolgirl. Greater Manchester Police were first called to reports of an unknown man and woman, who had travelled in a car and a van, "grabbing" an 11-year-old as she walked to school in Irlam at around 8.30am on Tuesday. The young girl was approached on Silver Street.
She was able to escape to safety and inform an adult, but parents were informed of a second incident hours later just three miles away in Urmston. Flixton Girls School said a man had "walked towards" a year seven pupil on nearby Bowfell Road, before "lunging" towards her and "staring" at her.
Police have now said they received six separate reports of "suspicious males" in the Trafford area, with local councillors warning communities are being "targeted". According to Manchester Evening News, the six reports have been investigated by police, who have carried out CCTV enquiries and confirmed there was "no offending" in five of the incidents. One report of common assault is still being investigated.
The circumstances, descriptions, and ethnicities of those involved in each report differ, and police do not believe they are linked. Detective Superintendent Alicia Smith, Trafford’s lead for Vulnerability, said: “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.
