Boy, 4, snatched from Black Country park in front of mother as police launch urgent manhunt

West Midlands Police has launched a manhunt after a four-year-old boy was abducted from a Black Country park on Thursday afternoon.

The young child disappeared for several minutes while playing just metres from his mother near the fish pond at Haden Hill Park in Cradley Heath, Sandwell.

His mother had been attending to a baby when the boy vanished shortly after 3pm.

The youngster was located moments later in woodland adjacent to the park, prompting the alarm to be raised.

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Specially trained officers are now working with the child and his family to piece together the precise sequence of events.

The park was situated off Halesowen Road near Birmingham.

It has become the focus of an intensive police investigation as detectives seek to identify the person responsible.

Police have described the suspect as a black male in his late teens, of short stature, with curled hair and a clean-shaven face.

He was reportedly dressed entirely in black clothing at the time of the incident.

The force has emphasised that they consider this to be an isolated occurrence, though they acknowledge the distress it will cause locally.

West Midlands Police said in a statement: "We’re in the early stages of the investigation and specially trained officers are speaking to the boy and his family as we look to establish exactly what happened.

"The offender is described as being in his late teens, black, short in height and with curled hair. He has been described as clean-shaven and wearing black clothing."

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They added: "We believe this is an isolated incident, but we understand how concerning it is and understand the impact it will have in the area and to the local community."

Additional officers have been deployed to patrol Haden Hill Park and the surrounding neighbourhood over the coming days to provide reassurance to residents and park visitors.

Detectives are currently examining CCTV footage from the area as part of their enquiries into the abduction.

The force has issued an urgent appeal for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward with information.

The force said: "We are also appealing for witnesses to come forward and we're particularly keen to hear from people who may have been in the park at the time and may have any mobile footage to please contact us."

Members of the public can also speak directly to the additional officers now patrolling the area if they have any relevant information.

Anyone with details about the incident should contact police on 101, quoting log number 3966-180626. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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