Droylsden kidnapping: Police investigating as girl, 6, abducted and ‘sexually assaulted’ in van - any arrests?

A man has been arrested on suspicion of the abduction and sexual assault of a six-year-old girl, who was allegedly snatched off the street.

Greater Manchester Police believe the girl was kidnapped in Warne Avenue, Droylsden, at around 4pm on Wednesday.

She was taken to Tameside Woods and then to a van, where she was reportedly sexually assaulted, before she was returned to the woods and found her own way to a nearby park.

“Thankfully, the child was safely re-united with her family a short time later,” a police spokesperson said.

On Wednesday evening, a 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of abduction and sexual assault, and is in custody for questioning.

A 23-year-old man was also arrested on Friday and is being questioned in custody by Greater Manchester Police.

The force said detectives are keeping an open mind about the case.

Speaking in Warne Avenue on Thursday, Det Supt Richard Hunt said: “What I can say, he’s obviously grabbed a child, and what I would say to members of the public is that they need to be extra vigilant.

“A child was playing in this area and a chap who was hanging around has taken a child and thankfully within a few minutes we’ve got her back.

“Parents need to consider the circumstances of what I have mentioned and I would suggest they need to be extra vigilant with their children whilst we progress this as quickly as possible.”

If you see the man, call the police on 999 quoting incident 2270 of 17/08/2022. Other details can be passed to us via our LiveChat facility on our website (www.gmp.police.uk) or by calling 101. Information can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.