Police hunting schoolgirl's abductor

Photo / file

Police say they are following up leads in their hunt for the man who abducted a Palmerston North schoolgirl this week.

The nine-year-old was forced into the man's car on Shamrock St on Tuesday morning and driven around the city for 25 minutes before being dropped off near Our Lady of Lourdes school.

Police said the man spoke inappropriately to the girl but did not touch her.

Detective Sergeant Gary Milligan, of Palmerston North police, told NZPA today police were following a few leads from the public and would also be speaking to the family of the victim, who was still traumatised and distressed by the abduction.

He said there was no connection, at this stage, between the attempted abduction of a 10-year-old girl near West End School in Palmerston North on June 22.

That girl was walking to school on the corner of Park and Botanical roads when she was confronted by a man who tried to grab her.

She got away from him and alerted school staff.

- NZPA