Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: CEN

These men – dressed as clowns – have been arrested for kidnapping a seven-year-old girl by luring her into a van with sweets and toys.

The disturbing incident took place in the municipality of Nezahualcoyotl, in the central Mexican state of Mexico.

Local media report three men, named in reports as Ulises, 25, Angel, 24, and Gerardo, 35, dressed up in clown outfits to carry out the crime.

Pictures Credit: CEN

The trio reportedly offered sweets and toys to a seven-year-old girl, who has not been named in reports, while they were sat in a van.

They managed to tempt the youngster into the vehicle and even sent a text message to an unknown recipient saying “we are carrying the package”.

However, the girl’s mother quickly called the cops and enlisted the help of her neighbours to search for the girl.

The suspects were reportedly caught some minutes later not far from where the incident took place.

The motivation behind the kidnapping is unclear and the investigation is ongoing.

Photos taken by the police of the suspects shows them in clown outfits, with one of them in full make-up.