County Derry Post

Police are hunting a callous kidnapper after a teenager was snatched from the street as she walked to school in Dungiven.

By Connla Young and Fiona Rutherford

The 14-year-old girl, whose identity is known to the County Derry Post, was bundled into the boot of a car by a man as she walked along Glenshane Road on Monday morning.

It is understood the terrified teenager was driven to an isolated area in the Old Priory district of the town before making her escape across nearby fields.

It is believed the terrified child used her mobile phone to alert family members to her ordeal.

The distraught teenager was being interviewed by police at a special unit for victims at Maydown yesterday.

A spokesman for the PSNI said: “Police are investigating an incident believed to have occurred earlier today. At this time due to the nature of the investigation it would be inappropriate and irresponsible to comment further.”

Councillor Michael Coyle, chairman of Limavady District Policing Partnership, who lives near the spot where the alleged incident took place, said: “The community is deeply in shock over the whole thing.

“We are very lucky that the young girl had a mobile phone and had the presence of mind to ring somebody.”

He said there was a strong case for making sure young people have mobile phones.

As chairman of the DPP, he said this sort of crime was very unusual in these parts. “People shouldn’t get into a panic but they should be very aware of what their family are doing. Children should contact parents or guardians to let them know if they are going out of their routine.

“The most important thing of all is that if anybody has any information on the incident, no matter how small it is, they should contact the PSNI directly or Crimestoppers or any of the councillors on the DPP or its members.”