Police Launch Manhunt For Man After He Allegedly Kidnapped, Sexually Assaulted 7-Year-Old Girl

A seven-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted in Droylsden in Tameside, Greater Manchester, and now cops have launched a manhunt.

The child was taken from the Warne Avenue and Hawthorn Road area around 4.10 p.m. Wednesday, said officers, reported Manchester World. She was allegedly assaulted by an unknown man. He seemed to be lurking around the area. Later, she found her own way to a park and got reunited with her family.

Greater Manchester Police tweeted that Tameside detectives believe that the girl was taken by a man on "Warne Avenue into woods near the disused railway track towards Manchester Road."

The tweet also read that they have a large "number of officers in the area while extensive searches for the suspect take place."

A man had been taken to police custody, but he has since been released with no further action, Greater Manchester Police said Thursday morning. The 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of abduction and sexual assault, and was questioned before being released, reported The Sun.

Now police have released photos of a second man whom they urgently want to talk to, reported Metro. The second man was pictured on CCTV. He was seen in the area around the time of the attack. Cops described him as a white man in his 20s. He was wearing a jacket and dark trousers. At one point, he took off his jacket and put it around his waist. He was also wearing dark shoes or trainers.

Detective Superintendent Richard Hunt, of Greater Manchester Police's Ashton Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said that he'd like to commend the victim for "her immense bravery in assisting police officers with our investigation." He informed that the girl is "receiving support from specialist officers and partners at this really distressing time."

He shared that extensive enquiries are ongoing with significant resources, and he said that as a "precautionary measure, we have extra police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) out on the streets."

Hunt noted that they believe the attack to be an "isolated incident." He said that they are confident that this an "isolated incident, there’s nothing to suggest that this is a repeated behaviour or pattern." At this time, he advised parents to be vigilant and urged the public to look at the CCTV images and contact police with any information.