School vendor mistaken for kidnapper

Larnaca police went on high alert Friday by responding to a school complaint over a possible kidnapper, who ended up being a vendor for the canteen.

According to police, two pupils aged 8 and 11 were dropped off together at their local electuary school on Friday, when moments later they said they were approached by man they thought could be a kidnapper.

The two pupils, a boy and a girl, notified a school administrator who then called the police.

Police officers who rushed to the school began searching the area only to discover that the vendor of the school canteen was the owner of a white van, out of which came a foreign man who reportedly said something to the children.

It later emerged that the man, who works for a woman who owns the vending company, visits the school on a daily basis.

Police told Knews they followed all the procedures and protocol in dealing with such matters, from the moment they received the phone call until officers were able to clarify the situation.

It was not clear whether the school administration had any other concerns, with police telling Knews the call they had received was regarding a possible kidnapper.