Advertisement

Police investigating after attempted abduction of 8-year-old girl from Toronto school

Click to play video: 'Police search for suspect in attempted abduction at Etobicoke school'
Police search for suspect in attempted abduction at Etobicoke school
WATCH ABOVE: Investigators allege a man walked into the school yard at St. John Vianney Catholic School in Etobioke and tried to carry away an eight-year-old girl, but was scared away by fellow students. Mark Carcasole reports – Mar 19, 2021

Toronto police officers say they are investigating the attempted abduction of an eight-year-old girl outside of an Etobicoke school Friday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to St. John Vianney Catholic School on Thistle Down Boulevard, near Islington Avenue and Albion Road, just before 12:30 p.m. for a report a man allegedly tried to abduct a young girl.

Insp. Michael Williams told reporters children were playing in the south end of the school when a man approached a girl and tried to pick her up and put her over his shoulder.

He said when other children saw what was happening, the man became scared, dropped the girl and took off toward the Humber River.

Story continues below advertisement

Williams said the child was uninjured.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Police described the suspect as being in his 20s with a heavy build. He was last seen wearing a black balaclava, a black baseball hat, a black sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes.

It is unclear if the girl was targeted or if it was a random abduction attempt, Williams added.

Investigators asked anyone with surveillance video or information in regard to the incident to contact police.

Sponsored content

AdChoices