A Cork woman was being treated for shock yesterday after she was abducted at a garage forecourt on the outskirts of the city and forced to drive around for over 90 minutes before escaping.
The woman was pulling out from Hennessy's Garage in White's Cross at 8.30am yesterday when a man wearing a balaclava emerged from her backseat.
He restrained her by putting a seat-belt around her neck.
It is believed the man hid in the back seat when the woman went in to the forecourt to pay for petrol.
She told gardaí she drove around Glanmire and Glounthaune for over 90 minutes before she decided to pull in to the side of the road near Knockraha.
She then ran off and raised the the alarm. She was uninjured but was said to be deeply shocked. The man then set fire to the car before fleeing.
The vehicle was impounded and was being technically examined by gardaí yesterday. The man at the centre of the abduction was said to be wearing dark jeans and a dark jacket.
A spokesman for Glanmire Garda station said he was very concerned about the fact that the abduction occurred in broad daylight.
"This is a very worrying development. The woman is very traumatised as one would expect. She managed to escape once she pulled in but the man did pursue her for a period before going back and attempting to set fire to the car.
"The man was wearing a balaclava and gloves so the description is pretty vague. But we would be asking anyone with information to contact us."
Gardaí have appealed to members of the public who may have witnessed an individual acting strangely near White's Cross at 8.30am or around Glanmire/ Glounthaune at 10am to contact them at Glanmire station on (021) 4821001.