Girl, 9, ‘snatched outside Harrods in broad daylight while shopping with parents

A nine-year-old girl has reportedly been “snatched” from outside Harrods, in central London.

According to the Daily Mail, the youngster was reported missing but was found three hours later. 

Metropolitan Police officers found her after CCTV footage showed the nine-year-old walking with a man at about 2.30pm outside the department store in Knightsbridge, London on Monday.

Following the incident officers have arrested a man, 56, on suspicion of kidnap.

It comes after a man was stopped by police at 5.40pm yesterday before being taken to a London police station.  

A police spokesman told MailOnline that officers were alerted to reports of a missing child. 

He said the child had become separated from her family and that a photo of her was shown to officers.

A police statement read: “Police were called at 2.44pm on Monday, April 22 to reports of a missing child at Old Court Place, W8.

“Officers attended. At the scene, a nine-year-old girl had become separated from her family.

“Fast-time enquiries were conducted and an image of the child in the company of a man, taken from CCTV, was circulated to officers.”

The child and her family are being supported by specialist officers.

Police believe this to be an isolated incident with no other people involved. 

Harrods told Metro.co.uk it had supported police with the incident.

A spokesman for the department store told the paper: “We supported the Metropolitan police with an incident outside Harrods that has now thankfully been resolved.

“We cannot comment any further on the details as it is a police matter but are thankful the Met Police’s swift actions led to this safe resolution.”

The Express has contacted the Metropolitan Police for further comment.