Man Charged in Chilliwack School Kidnapping Attempt

CHILLIWACK, B.C. - A man faces kidnapping charges after allegedly attempting to abduct a seven-year-old girl from the playground of Chilliwack Central Elementary School on Wednesday morning, police said.

RCMP officers responded to the school just after 9 a.m. following reports that the suspect had tried to remove the child from the grounds. A concerned individual intervened, returning the girl to safety. The child was not injured. Officers located and arrested the man nearby shortly afterward.

The suspect, whose identity has not been released, has been charged with kidnapping a person under 16 years old. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday. Police confirmed the man and the girl are not known to each other and described the incident as isolated.

Investigators noted the suspect was wearing a purple, bunny-like mask during the attempt. They are seeking witnesses who may have seen the man or related activity between 8:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. in the area from the school to the 46000-block of Margaret Avenue.

Superintendent Darren Pankratz, officer in charge of the Chilliwack RCMP, emphasized the gravity of the event. "The safety of children in our community is a key priority, and...