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Father reveals kidnap ordeal horror
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The father of kidnap victim Sahil Saeed has revealed the terrifying threats made by his son's captors and his fears that the little boy might be murdered.
Raja Saeed told the Mail on Sunday the heavily armed gang which took his son said they could put an explosive jacket on the five-year-old and "blow him to pieces".
During the days that Sahil was missing, Mr Saeed feared the boy might be killed and at one point was convinced the gang were watching him.
The nightmare began when Mr Saeed took his son on holiday to Jhelum in Pakistan. On their last night, March 4, four armed and masked men ambushed their taxi as they prepared to travel to the airport.
The gang had guns and grenades, and stripped the terrified group of valuables before snatching Sahil. Mr Saeed told the newspaper: "They said, 'We're going to take your son. We know you're a businessman and we know you have lots of money. My heart pounded. I pleaded with them, telling them I was not a rich man and had no money. I was completely helpless."
A man from the gang initially demanded £200,000 as a ransom, which was slowly negotiated down to £110,000.
Mr Saeed said he feared his son had been killed and when he demanded proof that his son was safe, the gang threatened to send him body parts, and as the days went by he faced repeated horrific threats against his son.
The kidnappers ordered him to fly back to Manchester and knew when he was at the airport. Mr Saeed said: "I wondered whether they were watching me. They seemed to know my every move. I was very upset leaving Pakistan knowing my son was with this gang but thought nothing of myself and only of his safety."
Greater Manchester Police sent him to a safe house when he returned to the UK. Mr Saeed then arranged for a "friend" in Paris to hand over the money, and was then told by the gang that his relatives in Pakistan would be in danger if he told police.
After the money exchange, it took the gang two days to free Sahil. Three people - two Pakistani men and a Romanian woman - were arrested in Spain accused of involvement in the kidnapping and appeared in court on Thursday.
Reader views (1)
I just hope a good investigation is going into this case.
- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey, 21/03/2010 18:04
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