Attempted Child Abduction in Biel: Suspect Posed as Cristiano Ronaldo

A six-year-old child in Biel, Switzerland, thwarted an attempted abduction on Tuesday afternoon after a man falsely claimed to be football star Cristiano Ronaldo. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. In the courtyard of the Dufour school.

The Incident

According to reports from 24 Heures and Le Matin, the man initially offered the child candy while pretending to be the famous footballer. When the child refused, the suspect then asked another child to bring his friend to him, claiming Ronaldo was waiting in a car.

The quick thinking of the young football fan, who recognized the deception – noting the suspect “didn’t have white teeth” – and the reaction of both children, who alerted adults, prevented the situation from escalating. The mother of the child approached stated, “They reacted very well.”

Police Intervention and Arrest

The Bernese cantonal police confirmed the arrest of the individual. Police were already in the vicinity responding to a separate incident – a cyclist who had been assaulted by two individuals near the school shortly before the attempted abduction. Watson reports that the police were on route to the school for this prior incident when the abduction attempt occurred.

“We take this type of event very seriously,” stated Chiara Bovigny, a spokesperson for the Bernese cantonal police, as reported by Le Matin. Authorities are considering a perimeter ban for the suspect.

Community Concerns and Police Advice

The incident has understandably caused concern among parents in the community. Images of the suspect circulated on social media following the event. Police are urging anyone with information or who observes suspicious behavior to contact them directly, rather than sharing information on social networks. MSN highlights this advice.