Boy, 10, escapes ‘attempted abduction by masked man’ as he walked home from school
A suspect wearing a balaclava approached and reportedly chased the boy in harrowing ordeal
A MASKED man reportedly tried to abduct a terrified 10-year-old boy as he walked home from school.
The child was left shocked by the harrowing ordeal after a "suspect wearing a balaclava chased him".
The victim was walking at 3.30pm yesterday when he was approached by the attacker.
He managed to run for safety by sprinting towards older students.
His school, Tregolls Academy in Truro, Cornwall, posted a warning for parents and other pupils on its .
Now a mum-of-two has come forward fearing her son could also have been a victim of the potential abductor after an incident two-weeks-ago at the city's bus station.
Matt Middlemore, head of Tregolls Academy, said: "At 3.30pm a child was walking home from school as he usually does when he was approached by a man in black jogging bottoms, a black jacket and a black balaclava.
";He recognised that it was not right and ran into a group of students from a local secondary school [Penair] - he did the right thing.
"He knew it wasn't right, he knew what to do, he recognised the signs and we are working with our families to make sure everyone is vigilant."
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The masked man made his escape when the Year 5 student got to the other group and raised the alarm.
Parents who were nearby alerted the school's teachers who dashed to the scene immediately and police officers arrived within five minutes, interviewing the boy and students.
Mr Middlemore said the student is "very shaken up" by the ordeal, but praised the boy for his bravery.
He said the school teaches its students to be aware of stranger danger.
Devon and Cornwall police have been approached for a comment.
This could be the second child abduction attempt in Truro in a few weeks.
A mum claimed a man who approached her 11-year-old son at Truro bus station tried to lure him away with enticements of food and money.
She said her son, who attends Roseland Community College, was waiting for his bus to school when the man reportedly made the approach.
The 38-year-old said: "He gets the bus with a friend but was running late so was alone.
"The man struck up a conversation and then asked if he wanted to get some food, he then tried to give him some money.
"Her son realised it was "odd" behaviour and "ran around to a more crowded area and rang me.
"I kept him on the phone until a bus arrived then told him to tell the driver, who let him on the bus and shut him in while he was waiting.
"I called the police once I knew he was safe and he was interviewed.
"Of course, I was worried, it wasn't appropriate behaviour."
A police officer searched the bus station for the man but he was nowhere to be seen, she added.
In August, a suspect wearing a hat and combat clothing allegedly tried to "lead a young child" off Perranporth beach.
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