This is the heart-stopping moment a one-year-old toddler was allegedly snatched by a homeless man inside a bustling supermarket in Romania. Shocking CCTV footage has emerged, capturing the terrifying incident in full view of the child's horrified parents at a store in Bergamo.
Dramatic CCTV Footage Reveals Horrifying Scene
The dramatic clip shows the family – a mother, father, and their little daughter – calmly exiting through the automatic doors when a Romanian man suddenly approaches. Within seconds, the suspect, dressed in a black hoodie and green trousers, lunges at the child and seizes her.
Tug-of-War Struggle as Mother Clings to Child
In a horrifying tug-of-war, the toddler is yanked in opposite directions as her desperate mother clings to her arms while the man grips her legs. The girl's stunned father is seen jolting away from the shopping trolley he had been pushing before rushing to intervene.
Panicked shoppers quickly leap into action, surrounding the pair and helping wrestle the little girl back to safety. A young girl with black hair can be seen frozen in confusion as the terrifying scene unfolds before her.
Security and Police Respond to Chaos
Moments later, security guards storm in and pin the alleged attacker to the ground as chaos erupts inside the store. Police were called and raced to the supermarket, where officers secured the traumatised child before escorting the suspect to the station.
Investigators pieced together the ordeal using witness accounts and CCTV footage. The toddler was rushed to hospital following the struggle. Doctors later confirmed she had suffered a fractured femur as a result of the alleged assault.
Suspect Arrested and Held in Prison
The man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated kidnapping of a child under 14 and aggravated assault. He is currently being held in prison as authorities await formal validation of his arrest.
This incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the vulnerability of children in public spaces and the swift response of bystanders in a crisis.
