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Two arrested over kidnapped boy | Two arrested over kidnapped boy |
(10 minutes later) | |
Two people "very close" to the men suspected of kidnapping a British boy at gunpoint in Pakistan have been arrested, the BBC has learned. | Two people "very close" to the men suspected of kidnapping a British boy at gunpoint in Pakistan have been arrested, the BBC has learned. |
A police source in Punjab province said they were confident five-year-old Sahil Saeed would be freed within 24 hours. | A police source in Punjab province said they were confident five-year-old Sahil Saeed would be freed within 24 hours. |
Sahil, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, and his father were at a house in the Punjab city of Jhelum on Wednesday when robbers broke in and seized the boy. | Sahil, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, and his father were at a house in the Punjab city of Jhelum on Wednesday when robbers broke in and seized the boy. |
The attackers are said to have demanded a £100,000 ransom for Sahil's return. | The attackers are said to have demanded a £100,000 ransom for Sahil's return. |
The boy's father, Raja Saeed, had been in Pakistan for two weeks visiting his mother with Sahil. | The boy's father, Raja Saeed, had been in Pakistan for two weeks visiting his mother with Sahil. |
Mr Saeed said they were just about to leave for the airport at 2300 local time (1800 GMT) on Wednesday when four men - armed with guns and a grenade - approached the house. | Mr Saeed said they were just about to leave for the airport at 2300 local time (1800 GMT) on Wednesday when four men - armed with guns and a grenade - approached the house. |
Up to 10 family members inside the house were beaten by the intruders during a six-hour ordeal, he said. | Up to 10 family members inside the house were beaten by the intruders during a six-hour ordeal, he said. |
Mother of kidnapped boy says she is afraid | Mother of kidnapped boy says she is afraid |
The robbers took items believed to be jewellery and money and fled with the boy. They have demanded a ransom equivalent to £100,000. | The robbers took items believed to be jewellery and money and fled with the boy. They have demanded a ransom equivalent to £100,000. |
They said they would be back in touch at 0700 GMT, but the boy's father said he had not heard from them. | They said they would be back in touch at 0700 GMT, but the boy's father said he had not heard from them. |
Mr Saeed, who has been based in the UK for about seven years, told BBC News he was ready to swap places with his only son. | |
"I don't have any money at all," he said. "They can take me if they want - just let my son come back. I am nothing without him." | "I don't have any money at all," he said. "They can take me if they want - just let my son come back. I am nothing without him." |
And, speaking at the family's home in Oldham, the child's mother, Akila Naqqash, said there was no chance her family would be able to pay the ransom. | And, speaking at the family's home in Oldham, the child's mother, Akila Naqqash, said there was no chance her family would be able to pay the ransom. |
"Sahil is a really quiet child - he's no harm to nobody," she said. | "Sahil is a really quiet child - he's no harm to nobody," she said. |
"Why would they want to take my son? What have we done? We've done nothing wrong. This is a normal holiday. Every family takes a holiday. | "Why would they want to take my son? What have we done? We've done nothing wrong. This is a normal holiday. Every family takes a holiday. |
"How is he coping with strangers? Four grown men. I don't know what they are doing to him." | "How is he coping with strangers? Four grown men. I don't know what they are doing to him." |
'Relatively safe' | 'Relatively safe' |
Jane Sheridan, head teacher of Rushcroft Primary School, which Sahil attends, said everyone was "deeply concerned" about his welfare and they were doing all they could to support his family. | Jane Sheridan, head teacher of Rushcroft Primary School, which Sahil attends, said everyone was "deeply concerned" about his welfare and they were doing all they could to support his family. |
Raja Naqqah Saeed, Sahil's father: "I want to give my son back to my wife" | Raja Naqqah Saeed, Sahil's father: "I want to give my son back to my wife" |
Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan described the kidnapping as a "condemnable act" that has caused the Pakistani government concern. | Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan described the kidnapping as a "condemnable act" that has caused the Pakistani government concern. |
George Sherriff, a spokesman for the British High Commission in Islamabad, said it was "continually monitoring the situation" and was in touch with Sahil's family. | George Sherriff, a spokesman for the British High Commission in Islamabad, said it was "continually monitoring the situation" and was in touch with Sahil's family. |
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool said officers thought the kidnapping was unlikely to be the result of a family feud or a personal grudge. | The BBC's Aleem Maqbool said officers thought the kidnapping was unlikely to be the result of a family feud or a personal grudge. |
Our correspondent said there were isolated incidents of kidnapping in Pakistan by criminal gangs who wanted to make money, occasionally linked to militant groups. | Our correspondent said there were isolated incidents of kidnapping in Pakistan by criminal gangs who wanted to make money, occasionally linked to militant groups. |
However, there was nothing to suggest this was the case in this kidnapping, he added. | However, there was nothing to suggest this was the case in this kidnapping, he added. |
Our correspondent says Jhelum is not in a tribal area and is a relatively safe part of Pakistan, where many British Pakistanis are from. | Our correspondent says Jhelum is not in a tribal area and is a relatively safe part of Pakistan, where many British Pakistanis are from. |