Newcastle kidnapping: Family saddened by relative's arrest
Members of a Newcastle family whose three children were taken by hijackers say they are disheartened after finding out one of the suspects arrested by police is their relative.
"We trusted the guy with our kids. We are really disappointed and heartbroken because we trusted him," a family member said.
Eleven-year-old Naseem Jama; six-year-old sister Nazia; and their cousin Muneera, aged nine, were being driven to school with their other cousins on Monday morning, when they were flagged down in Madadeni by people pretending to have car trouble.
They forced the driver and the boy cousins out of the vehicle before speeding off with the girls.
The children were later found in a house, where five men were arrested, including a relative and a family friend.
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Nazia and Naseem's older sister, Farida says the girls will be taken for counselling.
"They are not saying anything, so we have asked not to push them. They might say something in counselling. They are okay," she said.
Police say the men, who're appearing in court this morning on charges including human trafficking, had demanded a ransom.