11 Aug 2013

Toddler found safe amid abduction fears

9:35 pm on 11 August 2013

A two-year-old boy who was abducted from his home in Auckland has been reunited with his mother.

A major police search was carried out when Gabriel Donnelly went missing from his Coates Crescent home in Panmure about 1.45pm on Sunday afternoon.

The property where Gabriel Donnelly was last seen.

The property where Gabriel Donnelly was last seen. Photo: RNZ

The toddler was seen leaving on foot with Phillip Edwards, 33, and police are still trying to find him.

Police say he is wearing a dark blue hoodie, black jeans and Nike shoes and anyone who may have seen him should call 111 immediately.

Officers earlier said they were treating the incident as an abduction and putting significant resources into the operation.

One local resident says he saw the child and a man leave the house on foot while a woman screamed from the home.

A helicopter and the Police Maritime Unit were involved in the search for the toddler.