26-year-old man arrested for alleged kidnapping and rape in London

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape following a manhunt in southwest London.

Earlier today, the Metropolitan Police launched an appeal to locate Kadian Nelson, 26, after an attack in the North Place area of ​​Merton around 7 a.m. this morning.

Images and videos shared on social media claimed that a witness followed an assailant attempting to kidnap a teenager.

A woman can be heard asking the man if he knows the girl before he leaves. The child is heard crying ‘thank you, thank you’.

Police urged the suspect to turn himself in “for his own safety” amid reports from vigilante groups looking for him.

A Section 60 Order was authorized for the districts of Merton and Wandsworth and remains in effect, granting police additional powers of arrest and search, due to fear of serious violence.

The Met said the boy was being supported by specialized officers as officers patrolled the area.

The victim and his family have been informed that a suspect has been arrested and remains in custody.

In a statement, Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh said: “My heart goes out to the young woman who was abducted in Mitcham on her way to school this morning.

“The extraordinary bravery of a lady who followed them and filmed them has almost certainly saved the victim from even greater anguish and has provided the police with extremely important evidence of what I sincerely hope will be the swift apprehension and early arrest of the attacker.” .

During today’s appeal, Detective Superintendent Owain Richards said: ‘I recognize that this is a shocking and distressing incident and that local emotions are running high.

“Of course, we are aware of the videos and images that circulate on social networks and of the groups of people who attend various addresses.

I urge those people to go home. Don’t try to take the law into your own hands or you may end up doing something you regret and potentially face police action yourself. ‘

The force also asked people to remember that a police investigation is currently underway and that they should be “aware of sharing information through social media that may identify the alleged victim or affect any possible future proceedings.”

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