Misunderstanding behind ‘attempted abduction’

An official from the Bulgarian embassy was arrested and questioned in connection with the attempted abduction of her superior’s child from the kindergarten of a private school in Nicosia on Tuesday, but later released without charge following what appeared to be a misunderstanding between two good friends.

According to a source close to the investigation, the woman, on the diplomatic staff of the embassy, turned up at the nursery school of the American Academy at around 9am, in order to pick up a child that was not hers, saying she was taking the little girl to another school that her children attend.

Suspicious staff at the school quickly got in touch with the parents of the four-year-old girl who had no idea what was going on.

Reports say a tugging match ensued with the diplomat insisting she be allowed to take the child.

Police were called in and the woman was arrested and taken in for questioning though sources suggested she was entitled to diplomatic immunity.

The woman told police that she maintains a friendly, family relationship with the child’s mother, saying she had no intention of doing any harm to the girl. She was simply going to take the child to her mum and inform her that she planned to bring her to the same kindergarten her kids attend.

The four-year-old’s mother told police she had not given consent to the woman, with whom she does genuinely have friendly relations with.

The mix-up was attributed to a misunderstanding between the two mothers with the ‘suspect child abductor’ released without charge.

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