According to police reports, the incident took place yesterday at approximately 6.15pm on Beresford Road.
It has been established that a man in a red Nissan Micra attempted to snatch an 11-year-old boy who was making his way home.
Upon being told told to get into the car, the youngster broke free of the assailant's grip and fled in the direction of Duncan Road where he is said to have hidden behind a wall.
In a horrifying turn of events, the assailant was undeterred by the child's escape and attempted to look for him for a few minutes before eventually returning to his car and driving away.
The assailant has been described as a tall, white man of slim build, who is believed to be aged between 45 and 55-years-old, and was wearing a red T-shirt with horizontal stripes.
Commenting on the shocking incident, Detective Inspector Adrian Gallagher said: "This is an extremely worrying incident, but fortunately the boy managed to escape and wasn’t hurt in any way."
Reiterating the importance of identifying and locating the man, Det. Gallagher said: "It is vital we catch this man as soon as possible to prevent any further attempts to snatch young children off the street. I would ask that anyone who believes they saw the man or to contact police as soon as possible."
Appealing to parents to exercise extra caution, he continued: "I would also urge parents to take extra steps to protect their children, particularly in the area in which this incident occurred. Remain vigilant, warn children about the dangers of talking to strangers and reduce the amount of time young children are out on the street unsupervised."
If you feel you can be of any assistance in this case, please contact: 0161 856 4223, 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111
