Police appeal over child abduction attempt

Police in Charente have released an e-fit image of a man suspected of attempting to kidnap a young girl in front of a school in Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire.

The suspect is described as being about 40 years old, of average build and balding. On the day of the incident, he was wearing a dark grey T-shirt with a large inscription on the front.

The attempted abduction took place at the beginning of the week, police said. A man who tried to tempt the girl into his grey Peugeot 207 was scared off by the arrival of a second adult.

Gendarmes urged people in the Charente and in the surrounding area, as well as southern Charente-Maritime, northern Gironde and western Dordogne to be alert, and asked anyone with information to call 05 45 78 17 49.