Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
Video Credit: AsiaWire
This footage shows a young girl apparently being snatched by a man as she plays outside a shop.
The incident happened as the girl sat alone on the coin-operated kids’ ride in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, which is in the city of Hechi in South China’s Guangxi region, on 11th August.
CCTV footage from outside the business shows the suspect surnamed Wei, 24, walking up to the girl and picking her up without a second’s hesitation.
He then calmly walks away from the shop with the tot both hands, the video taken at just after 8pm local time shows.
Video Credit: AsiaWire
According to reports, the girl’s mother later discovered her daughter had been taken and chased after Wei, asking passers-by for help as she did so.
Huanjiang police said the suspect was later cornered by local residents and police officers outside a closed nursery school, where he was apprehended and the tot was freed.
The girl suffered no injuries during the ordeal, and police later revealed that Wei appeared incoherent during questions.
Local policeman Tan Xiaomin said: “A preliminary investigation has found that Wei, who lives in Huanjiang county, has a history of mental illness.
Picture Credit: AsiaWire
“We are trying to determine whether the man was suffering from an episode of mental illness at the time of the crime.”
Reports said Wei became a certified as a schizophrenia sufferer in June 2016 after spending two months receiving treatment at Guangxi Brain Hospital.
Investigations are ongoing, but it is unclear whether charges can be brought against him for the alleged kidnapping attempt.
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