GIRL DRAGGED FROM HER BIKE
‘ It is a timely reminder for all of us to ensure that our children travel on safe routes and that they travel in pairs or groups’
A TEENAGE boy has been arrested after a chilling attempted abduction in Echuca early yesterday.
Campaspe Crime Investigation Unit detectives arrested the 17-year-old after a young girl was pulled off her bike and dragged down an embankment at Campaspe Esplanade walking track just before 8.30am.
The victim managed to get away from the boy and police were notified of the incident.
Eyewitnesses told the Riverine Herald some golfers on the Back Nine course heard the screams and ran towards the track.
‘‘The bloke took off and someone went after him,’’ the man said.
‘‘It was all pretty chaotic and unreal.
‘‘You don’t expect to see this sort of thing at any time, let alone in broad daylight in Echuca.
‘‘People were trying to help, someone called police and I am not sure how it unfolded after that.’’
By 4.30pm yesterday, police were still interviewing the teen and it was unknown if he had been charged.
Police are refusing to comment further on the incident, apart from saying the investigation is continuing.
The attack has caused alarm in the community, with St Mary’s Primary School principal Brendan Atley warning parents in yesterday’s newsletter to be vigilant after being ‘‘informed of an incident where a secondary student was pulled from her bike’’.
‘‘I believe the young girl is OK but no doubt frightened and traumatised by such a distressing experience,’’ he wrote.
‘‘It is a timely reminder for all of us to ensure that our children travel on safe routes and that they travel in pairs or groups.
‘‘I ask that siblings travel together and not race ahead of the younger ones when travelling to and from school.
‘‘Talk to your children about stranger danger and the safest way to travel.’’
Within three hours of the Riverine Herald posting news of the attack it had reached more than 16,000 people.
It was shared more than 100 times and received more than 200 comments.