Woman arrested then released following ‘witch’ abduction claim

Stories spread that woman in black had tried to entice girl to go with her

A woman was arrested then released without charge yesterday following an alleged child abduction attempt in the Charleston area of Dundee.

Reports of a “witch-like” character, dressed in black and trying to entice a four-year-old girl with an invitation to see a puppy, circulated across the city this week.

It was claimed a woman with “black hair, black clothing and black lipstick” had tried to abduct a child near the junction of Brownhill Street and Buttars Terrace on Tuesday evening.

Police arrested a 48-year-old woman in connection with the incident but have released her without charge.

Inquiries into exactly what happened are ongoing, according to police.

The alleged incident was said to have happened in front of the little girl’s grandmother, who was left “shaken” afterwards.

A resident on Brownhill Street, who did not want to give their name, said: “It’s been crazy around here. On Tuesday there were at least three police cars and one van.

“I’ve got an 11-year-old daughter who plays football in the street a lot, so it is a worry to hear of things like that.

“I always tell my daughter not to go far, not to talk to strangers and to scream if she’s ever in danger, but you do still worry.”

Some residents thought the incident may have been a prank — and were not impressed.

The incident was widely discussed on social media, with a post by one Charleston resident shared more than 1,800 times.

The post stated: “People in Charleston with kids be careful there is a woman going about dressed in black with black lip stick and black hood up saying to kids she has a puppy and would they like to see and she has tryed (sic) grabbing them , the police is all over my bit and says to keep an eye out if see anything to phone them soon as!”