Gardaí put parents on alert tonight after a second suspected child abduction bid in the same town in recent weeks.
In the latest incident, a man tried to bundle a 10-year-old girl into a car last night near Cobh, Co Cork.
The child refused the man's offer of a lift home and managed to break away and run off, escaping with a nine-year-old friend who was with her.
Six weeks ago, a motorcyclist unsuccessfully attempted to abduct a seven-year-old girl as she walked home from a local shop.
The girls involved in last night's incident were said to be unhurt but shocked.
Gardaí searched the area but found no sign of either the man or his car.
Throughout today, road blocks were established in streets close to the scene of the abduction bid and a garda spokesman said: "A major incident room has been set up, but our investigations are at an early stage.
"We are appealing to the public to help us try to solve this extremely serious incident."
PA