Detectives are stepping up the hunt for a man after a seven-year-old girl was snatched from a street before being taken into a woods and sexually assaulted in a van.
Police were called to the incident in Droylesden at around 4pm yesterday following reports the girl was taken to a vehicle in Warne Road into a wooded area close to a disused railway track towards Manchester Road – where she was allegedly sexually assaulted.
The young girl was safely reunited with her family a short time later, police say.
A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of abduction and sexual assault.
But detectives probing the incident are stepping up the search for another man they wish to ‘speak to urgently’.
Police yesterday released two images of the male taken 30 minutes apart, urging anyone who sees him to call 999 immediately.
The first was taken a short time after the reports of the abduction were first made to police, with the second captured around half an hour afterwards.
It shows the man appearing to be wearing a jacket around his waist in Gainsborough Road hearing towards The Snipe pub.
Police said in a statement: ‘We’re wanting to speak to this man after a girl (aged seven) was taken into the woods by a stranger in Droylsden earlier’
Greater Manchester Police then released a second image of the man they want to identify. He appears here on Gainsborough Road heading towards The Snipe
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: ‘Detectives have issued two images of another man we wish to speak to urgently in relation to this incident.
‘We’re keeping an open-mind as our fast-paced enquiries continue. Thank you for your help so far.’
Officers had earlier released a statement with a CCTV image saying: ‘We’re wanting to speak to this man after a girl (aged seven) was taken into the woods by a stranger in Droylsden earlier.
‘Thankfully the girl was re-united with her family a short time later.
‘Seen him? Call 999. Contact us with any other info quoting 2270 of 17/08.’
There are a large number of officers in the area while ‘extensive searches for the suspect take place’, police said.