Children in Legnica stop abduction of five-year-old by raising alarm as intoxicated suspect is detained

Courtyard abduction attempt

On Saturday, 3 October 2026, at around 19:10, an attempted abduction occurred on a residential courtyard in Legnica, Lower Silesia. A five-year-old boy was playing outside with a group of other children when an unknown 29-year-old man entered the area. The duty officer at the Legnica Municipal Police Headquarters received an emergency report that an intoxicated individual was trying to take a young child. The man ran toward the five-year-old, grabbed him, lifted him into his arms, and began walking away. The children playing nearby reacted immediately by screaming loudly and calling for help, which alerted parents resting on a nearby bench.

Witness pursuit and detention

The alarm raised by the children prompted adults to launch an immediate pursuit across the residential yard. After running for about a dozen meters while carrying the boy, the 29-year-old suspect tripped and fell to the ground alongside the child. The five-year-old was not injured during the fall. The suspect left the child on the ground and attempted to flee on foot, but witnesses pursued and restrained him. Responding police officers arrived moments later and took custody of the suspect directly from the residents.

Intoxication and police intervention

The detained 29-year-old displayed aggressive behavior toward the responding officers, refused to comply with direct commands, and attempted to kick them. A breathalyzer test administered at the scene revealed nearly 2.5 per mille of alcohol in the suspect's exhaled breath. Because of his erratic behavior, officers conducted additional drug screenings, which returned positive results for amphetamine and methamphetamine. Following these preliminary procedures, officers transported the suspect to a police detention holding room.

Criminal charges and court proceedings

Police investigators secured physical evidence and questioned witnesses to determine the full sequence of events. Based on the gathered evidence, prosecutors charged the 29-year-old man with unlawful deprivation of liberty, an offense carrying a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison. The District Prosecutor in Legnica submitted a formal motion requesting pre-trial detention for the suspect. The district court scheduled its review of the detention request for Tuesday, 6 October 2026. Police officials commended the quick response of the children, noting that their actions reflected safety education guidelines.

Nadkomisarz Jagoda Ekiert from the Legnica Municipal Police Headquarters described the role of the children during the incident.

In this case, the children did exactly what officers teach them during prevention activities. Their scream immediately drew the attention of adults and allowed for a quick response. This situation shows that conversations with the youngest children about safety are of great importance. Even a child of several years should know that when a stranger tries to take them, they should scream, call for help, and do everything to draw the attention of their surroundings.