Family Held Hostage In Co Down

A family has been held hostage by a gang in Co Down it has been reported.

At around 8.30pm on Sunday, a number of men are said to have forced their way into a property on Smalls Road, Warrenpoint. Three members of a family were in the house at the time.

The gang forced a woman, aged 57, to go to a jewellery shop in the town and take items from the store, while other members of the gang held a 53-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman hostage.

The family members were then left abandoned in a field in Mayobridge, which is seven miles away, while the gang fled in an unknown vehicle.

Police have described the incident as a "tiger kidnapping" and have asked anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area between 7.30pm and 10.30pm on Sunday to contact them.

Condemning the kidnapping, SDLP MLA Karen McKevitt said the family had been left "badly shaken, but physically unhurt" by the "terrifying ordeal".

She added: "The entire community is in shock at hearing something as horrific as this could happen in Warrenpoint. This was late on a Sunday evening, at half past eight when the terrible ordeal unfolded and these evil thugs subjected them to unimaginable horror.

"Everyone is relieved to hear the family is physically unhurt, but this was an extremely traumatic ordeal and they are, understandably, badly shaken.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this very distressing time. I hope they can recover quickly and get on with their lives."

(JP)