Gardaí have released descriptions of two of the men involved in the attempted daylight abduction of a young boy in Co Westmeath on Saturday.
The 10-year-old had a lucky escape when he wriggled free from the grasp of one of the men who chased him on the quiet country road at 2.30 p.m.
The boy ran to his home where family members raised the alarm. He had no injuries but is said to be shaken from the incident.
Gardaí now believe three men were involved in the failed abduction, but the boy could only describe two of them as one of the men did not get out of the car.
The incident took place when the boy was out walking close to his home three miles from Tyrrellspass on the Tyrrellspass-Daingean road. Tyrrellspass lies on the Galway-Dublin road and thousands of cars pass through it each day.
A black Mercedes passed the boy on the road, then suddenly braked and reversed back towards him, gardaí say. Two black men got out of the car and ran after the boy. At one point one of the men had him in his grasp.
"The boy tells us the first of the two men was tall and thin, and in his 30s. He had blue jeans, a jumper, and dark brown boots," said Insp Denis Shiels of Mullingar Garda station. "The second man was in his 20s, and was also tall and thin. He had a red jumper, blue jeans, and dark brown boots."
Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.