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| Kidnapped Sahil found in Pakistan | Kidnapped Sahil found in Pakistan |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The family of a five-year-old British boy who was kidnapped while in Pakistan say they are "ecstatic" after he was found safe and well. | The family of a five-year-old British boy who was kidnapped while in Pakistan say they are "ecstatic" after he was found safe and well. |
| Sahil Saeed, from Oldham, had been snatched from his grandmother's house in Jhelum by armed robbers on 3 March. | Sahil Saeed, from Oldham, had been snatched from his grandmother's house in Jhelum by armed robbers on 3 March. |
| Greater Manchester Police said he was left near a school at 0410 GMT on Tuesday, before wandering into a field where he was found by locals. | Greater Manchester Police said he was left near a school at 0410 GMT on Tuesday, before wandering into a field where he was found by locals. |
| The family in Oldham said they were "over the moon" at his release. | The family in Oldham said they were "over the moon" at his release. |
| Police said that Sahil had spoken to both of his parents on the telephone. | Police said that Sahil had spoken to both of his parents on the telephone. |
| "The whole family is ecstatic. They are currently taking in the news and want to celebrate as a family," a family spokesman said. | "The whole family is ecstatic. They are currently taking in the news and want to celebrate as a family," a family spokesman said. |
| Along with his family, we eagerly await his return to Oldham, and back to Rushcroft where he has been missed by his friends and teachers Jane Sheridan, head teacher | |
| Sahil was found 20 miles away from Jhelum, near a village school in the town of Dinga in the Gujrat district, local police said. | Sahil was found 20 miles away from Jhelum, near a village school in the town of Dinga in the Gujrat district, local police said. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson of Greater Manchester Police said members of Sahil's family were due to fly to Pakistan as soon as possible to bring him back to the UK. | Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson of Greater Manchester Police said members of Sahil's family were due to fly to Pakistan as soon as possible to bring him back to the UK. |
| He said: "At this time, I believe he is well, considering the terrible ordeal that he will have been through." | He said: "At this time, I believe he is well, considering the terrible ordeal that he will have been through." |
| Sahil is now with family in Pakistan and with Pakistani police, ACC Thompson added. He also said that while police did not expect to make imminent arrests in the UK, there could be arrests in other parts of Europe. | Sahil is now with family in Pakistan and with Pakistani police, ACC Thompson added. He also said that while police did not expect to make imminent arrests in the UK, there could be arrests in other parts of Europe. |
| He said "things were moving very quickly" in relation to the investigation and that he was unable to comment on whether a ransom had been paid, because of the ongoing criminal investigation. | He said "things were moving very quickly" in relation to the investigation and that he was unable to comment on whether a ransom had been paid, because of the ongoing criminal investigation. |
| The boy had been visiting relatives with his father, Raja Saeed, who returned to the UK last week, against the wishes of Pakistan's police. | The boy had been visiting relatives with his father, Raja Saeed, who returned to the UK last week, against the wishes of Pakistan's police. |
| Violent robbery | Violent robbery |
| The British High Commissioner in Islamabad, Adam Thompson, said Sahil's release was "fantastic news". | The British High Commissioner in Islamabad, Adam Thompson, said Sahil's release was "fantastic news". |
| "It brings to an end the traumatic ordeal faced by Sahil Saeed's family," he said. | "It brings to an end the traumatic ordeal faced by Sahil Saeed's family," he said. |
| "I would like to praise the high level of co-operation between the UK and Pakistani authorities and in particular I would like to thank the Jhelum police for their role in bringing about the safe return of Sahil." | "I would like to praise the high level of co-operation between the UK and Pakistani authorities and in particular I would like to thank the Jhelum police for their role in bringing about the safe return of Sahil." |
| The Foreign Office said it had no further details of the release at present. | The Foreign Office said it had no further details of the release at present. |
| Sahil was taken when robbers broke into his grandmother's house. Up to 10 family members inside the house were said to have been beaten by the intruders during a six-hour ordeal. | Sahil was taken when robbers broke into his grandmother's house. Up to 10 family members inside the house were said to have been beaten by the intruders during a six-hour ordeal. |
| The robbers then took items believed to be jewellery and money and fled with the boy. | The robbers then took items believed to be jewellery and money and fled with the boy. |
| The raiders had apparently demanded a £100,000 ransom for the boy's return, but his family had said there was "no way" they could afford any such payment. | The raiders had apparently demanded a £100,000 ransom for the boy's return, but his family had said there was "no way" they could afford any such payment. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson: "I believe he is well considering the terrible ordeal he has been through" | Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson: "I believe he is well considering the terrible ordeal he has been through" |
| The BBC's Aleem Maqbool said kidnapping was not rare in Pakistan, and even when ransoms were handed over, such cases did not always end happily. | |
| The policy of the Foreign Office is that it does not pay ransoms and it advises others not to do so. | The policy of the Foreign Office is that it does not pay ransoms and it advises others not to do so. |
| The law minister of Punjab province, Rana Sanaullah, was asked on ARY TV on Tuesday whether Sahil's father had paid a ransom to secure his child's release. | The law minister of Punjab province, Rana Sanaullah, was asked on ARY TV on Tuesday whether Sahil's father had paid a ransom to secure his child's release. |
| He said the money had been paid "not in Britain, but in another country". | He said the money had been paid "not in Britain, but in another country". |
| Mother's pleas | |
| Jane Sheridan, head teacher at Rushcroft Primary School, said: "We are delighted to hear that Sahil has been released safe and well. | Jane Sheridan, head teacher at Rushcroft Primary School, said: "We are delighted to hear that Sahil has been released safe and well. |
| "Along with his family, we eagerly await his return to Oldham, and back to Rushcroft where he has been missed by his friends and teachers." | "Along with his family, we eagerly await his return to Oldham, and back to Rushcroft where he has been missed by his friends and teachers." |
| Last week, relatives of the boy spoke of their anguish after false reports that he had been found and handed over to his father. | Last week, relatives of the boy spoke of their anguish after false reports that he had been found and handed over to his father. |
| His uncle, Raja Khalid Bashir, said at the time that it was "like losing him a second time". | His uncle, Raja Khalid Bashir, said at the time that it was "like losing him a second time". |
| In Oldham, Sahil's mother had appealed to the kidnappers for the safe return of her son, saying: "I just want my son back. All is forgiven, I will forgive you." | In Oldham, Sahil's mother had appealed to the kidnappers for the safe return of her son, saying: "I just want my son back. All is forgiven, I will forgive you." |
| After Sahil was taken, several men - including a taxi driver - were arrested. | After Sahil was taken, several men - including a taxi driver - were arrested. |
| Four police officers have been suspended for not initially responding to the family's emergency call. | Four police officers have been suspended for not initially responding to the family's emergency call. |
| But Aleem Maqbool said it is now clear that the police do not have any suspects in custody. |