Neighbours reacted with shock after a man has been kidnapped on a busy road in Oxford.
Thames Valley Police said a man was pushed into the back of a grey-coloured vehicle after being assaulted by another man at around 8pm on Sunday (October 22) in Between Towns Road.
The police launched a public appeal earlier today (October 24) asking for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.
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After police confirmed details of the incident, residents in the area spoke of their shock at the incident.
Nick Green, 40, who works at The Original Swan pub on the corner of the road, said: “It’s the first time I have heard of something like this around here.
“It doesn’t normally happen around here by the main road. It is a shock.
“From hearing where it was, things like that don’t normally happen on a main road as it’s full of cars all day and night. It’s busy all day long.”
Pastor of the New Testament Church of God, Wesley Sealy said he was at the church, on the same road, during the time of the kidnapping.
He said: “It is concerning. Anything that happens in the neighbourhood that is tragic is of concern and definitely, this is something we will be praying about and for the family of the person who has been kidnapped.
“This is not something I have heard of happening before. Obviously, it is quite shocking.
“It is scary as we would have been at the premises at that time so this is quite disturbing.”
Police are treating the kidnapping as an isolated incident but are calling for anyone with information to contact the force.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable James Salt, based at Oxford police station, said: “We are carrying out an investigation and are working to establish more details as to what occurred but we believe this to be an isolated incident.
“Our main priority at this time is to ensure that the victim is safe and well.
“I would like to speak to anyone who was involved in the incident or has any information which could help our investigation, especially anyone who has any CCTV or dash-cam footage would could be relevant."
If you have any information which you think could be helpful to police, please call the non-emergency number on 101, quoting reference number 43230475826.
Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or make a report online.
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