Police alerted over attempted child abductions in TK, Pedagogical Institute calls for caution

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Minister of Education and Science of Tuzla Canton Ahmed Omerović expressed concern over alarming information published on social networks about attempted abductions of schoolchildren in Tuzla Canton, stating that they are in contact with the cantonal Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding the matter. 

- As a parent and as a minister, I am concerned. I also have a child of that age and we are worried, we are monitoring the situation. We are in contact with the Police Administration and the MUP of TK, and we appeal to parents to get as involved as possible. We will also send an urgent notice to schools to take certain measures to the extent they can - Omerović stated. 

The situation is also being monitored by the Pedagogical Institute of TK.

- We all must definitely pay attention not only to what is happening within our schools, but also in public spaces. The times are very difficult and we must call on the entire social community to take responsibility so that wherever we notice any inconsistencies, we act appropriately. As the Pedagogical Institute, we are working on protocols that we send to schools, but the entire social community must be involved in solving the problem - said the director of the Pedagogical Institute of TK, Nikola Čiča.  

In the last 30 or so days, alarming information regarding attempted abductions has been published on social networks on several occasions, first in Tuzla, and recently in Živinice, but the Police Administration of the MUP of TK has not officially addressed the public about these posts.

The Second Elementary School from Živinice published a surveillance camera footage and a photo of a woman who allegedly intended to take one of the female students with her on its Facebook page. 

- A similar case occurred recently in Tuzla, and yesterday here as well. An unknown middle-aged woman stopped a second-grade female student in front of the school, talked to her, and then approached the girl again at the school entrance and talked to her, persuading her to go with her. She threatened her not to tell anyone and that she would come again. The cameras recorded everything. The police are conducting an investigation. Please, draw children's attention to walk in groups and to immediately report to anyone if an unknown person approaches them. The woman has long blonde hair - they wrote in the post from the Second Elementary School of Živinice.