06/08/2003

PUP councillor evades abduction attempt

Police are investigating a claim by Belfast Progressive Unionist Party councillor Billy Hutchinson that an attempt was made to abduct him this morning.

Mr Hutchinson said that four men tried to drag him into a car that that pulled up beside him when he was out for an early morning jog in west Belfast. He escaped by running off.

Mr Hutchinson, a loyalist councillor for North Belfast, said that he believed that the men were from the nationalist Ardoyne area.

He said that he would now be examining his personal security following the incident.

(SP)

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