JEDDAH: An African woman has been arrested for allegedly attempting to kidnap a girl from her father's car near a shopping center. According to reports, the father left his two daughters, aged two and 10, in his car with the engine running, while he went shopping. When he returned later he was surprised to find a number of people surrounding his car and trying to calm his daughters. He was told that an African woman had tried to kidnap his two-year-old daughter from the car. The children's cries had alerted passersby and shoppers, who intervened and stopped the woman. The father told the police that he went shopping but when he realized his daughters were shouting for help, he returned quickly. He said he found several members of the public holding a young African woman who had tried to pull his two-year-old from the vehicle. When she was confronted, the woman claimed that the father tried to assault her. But witnesses who saw her trying to kidnap the girl refuted her story. The police were summoned and later arrived at the scene. The dossier of the incident was referred to Al-Nuzlatain Police Station for further investigation. The father said he regretted leaving his two daughters in the car alone and hugged them. He asked the police to investigate whether the woman was involved in other such incidents. Col. Misfir Dakhel Al-Je'aid, Spokesman of the Jeddah Police, said investigations are underway. She is being held in custody. He said she faces kidnapping charges. Al-Je'aid warned parents about leaving their children alone in cars.
