UPDATE: Missing Newcastle children found in Osizweni
KwaZulu-Natal police have rescued the three Newcastle children who were allegedly abducted during a hijacking in the Madadeni area, north of the province this morning. Police Spokesperson Thembeka Mbhele says officers acted after receiving information on where the girls were being kept. Detectives found the girls and arrested four suspects. A vehicle was also recovered.
An intensive search is underway for three Newscastle children who were taken by armed men during an alleged hijacking this morning.
Police say Nazia Jama (6), her older sister Naseem (11) and their cousin Muneera Jama (9) were being driven to school together with three other cousins at the time of the incident.
They were then flagged down by people pretending to have a faulty tyre in Madadeni.
Police say the men allegedly pulled out firearms when the children's driver stopped the vehicle.
Spokesperson, Thembeka Mbhele says the driver, a male passenger and some of the children managed to get out of the car before the suspects sped off.
"There were six children in the car. Three managed to escape but three, between the ages of 6 and 11 years, are still missing. The suspects drove away with a silver BMW in. The police are right now searching for the suspects," she said.
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Nazia and Naseem's older sister, Farida says family members are also looking for the girls.