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Chinese national, 22, still missing after ‘violent’ Markham kidnapping: police

Click to play video: 'Chinese national, 22, still missing after ‘violent’ Markham kidnapping: police'
Chinese national, 22, still missing after ‘violent’ Markham kidnapping: police
WATCH ABOVE: Chinese national, 22, still missing after ‘violent’ Markham kidnapping: police – Mar 24, 2019

York Regional Police are concerned for the safety of a man who was abducted by a group of masked men in a parking garage in Markham on Saturday evening.

Police said 22-year-old Wanzhen Lu was kidnapped by three men and shocked by a stun gun multiple times before being forced into a black Dodge Caravan in the underground parking garage of his condo building located at 15 Water Walk Drive.

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Const. Andy Pattenden told media that Lu was walking with a female friend around 6 p.m. when a van with a licence plate stolen from Peel Region in early March pulled up behind them. Three men got out and ambushed Lu, dragging him into the van. The fourth suspect was said to be the driver.

15 Water Walk Drive where Wanzhen Lu was kidnapped on Saturday evening. Matthew Bingley / Global News

“It’s a little concerning,” said Nelson Long, who lived in the building where Lu was abducted. “I don’t know how a car full of people who may or may not live here got into the garage underground.”

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Police described the incident as a “violent attack” and believe it was targeted as Lu’s friend and others in the parking garage were left unharmed.

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“I’m kind of scared to live in this building,” said Kruti Bave, a resident who had lived in the in the condo building for around a year. “I thought it was one of the [safer] spaces around, but right now, I’m feeling a little scared.”
York Regional Police have released images of three-men suspected to be involved in the armed kidnapping of 22-year-old man in Markham. York Regional Police / Handout

The first suspect is described by officials as a masked male wearing blue pants and a black jacket.

The second suspect is described as a dark-skinned male, around 6’1″ and he was wearing a black Canada Goose jacket.

The third suspect is described as a heavier built male around 6’2″ with dark skin and was wearing dark blue jeans with a black jacket.

The fourth suspected is described as wearing a green/yellow jacket with the hood.

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WATCH BELOW: Police said at around 6 p.m., 22-year-old Wanzhen Lu was kidnapped from the underground parking garage of his condo building at 15 Water Walk Drive, near Highway 7 and Warden Avenue.

Click to play video: 'Man forced into van, kidnapped by three masked men in Markham: police'
Man forced into van, kidnapped by three masked men in Markham: police

Pattenden said Lu, who was a Chinese national studying in Toronto, was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans and white running shoes.

Police said the suspect’s van is a black 2008 to 2010 Dodge Caravan with the stolen plate CEAR350.

The building’s security operations manager told Global News that the building’s owners, Times Property Management, have co-operated with the police.

York police are asking anyone with information to call 866-876-5423 x7541.

 

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— with files from Samantha Berdini and The Canadian Press

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