A 12-year-old girl has been abducted and sexually assaulted in Tasmania's north-west.
Police have stepped up patrols in areas popular with children after the attack in Latrobe.
Police say the girl was forced into a dark grey van in the town's south about 4pm on Tuesday and driven to Old Deloraine Road, where she was sexually assaulted.
The man, aged between 20 and 30, released her in Shale Road.
The girl's family contacted police about 9:00pm on Tuesday expressing concern about their daughter's welfare.
Medical examinations were completed six hours later.
Police say it is obvious the girl is very traumatised by the attack and she has significant bruising.
They issued a public alert on Wednesday night, but stress there have been no other reports of attacks on children in the area.
Police are looking for a man described as 175 centimetres tall, with a thin build, pale complexion, clean shaven and who was wearing a grey hooded jumper at the time.
The car is fitted with a child's car seat or restraint fitted to one of the back seats.
Detective Inspector Rob Gunton says there is no cause for alarm. Seriously! He said that? There sounds like plenty of cause for alarm to me.
"Of course it would be a concern for parents, but it's not a matter that we would ask parents to be alarmed about," he said. What a strange man! You don't normally ask parents to be alarmed, it happens on its own.
"But we certainly would advise parents to make their children aware of strange danger (???!) and the messages in relation to talking to strangers and what to do if approached by a stranger."
Detective Inspector Gunton say the increased patrols will continue until the perpetrator of the attack on the girl is caught.
The Latrobe Mayor, Mike Gaffney, says close-knit community is in shock and he is urging residents to be on the alert.
"It's a really important reminder to families all across the state just to talk to your children about being aware," he said.
"Small communities like most communities rally around and they do whatever we can, it's just very important until the person is apprehended.
"If you have any information or think something's a bit strange then you need to immediately go to police, no matter how small you think it might be that piece of information could be very, very important."
Police have stepped up patrols in areas popular with children after the attack in Latrobe.
Police say the girl was forced into a dark grey van in the town's south about 4pm on Tuesday and driven to Old Deloraine Road, where she was sexually assaulted.
The man, aged between 20 and 30, released her in Shale Road.
The girl's family contacted police about 9:00pm on Tuesday expressing concern about their daughter's welfare.
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| Car similar to the one in which the girl was abducted |
Police say it is obvious the girl is very traumatised by the attack and she has significant bruising.
They issued a public alert on Wednesday night, but stress there have been no other reports of attacks on children in the area.
Police are looking for a man described as 175 centimetres tall, with a thin build, pale complexion, clean shaven and who was wearing a grey hooded jumper at the time.
The car is fitted with a child's car seat or restraint fitted to one of the back seats.
Detective Inspector Rob Gunton says there is no cause for alarm. Seriously! He said that? There sounds like plenty of cause for alarm to me.
"Of course it would be a concern for parents, but it's not a matter that we would ask parents to be alarmed about," he said. What a strange man! You don't normally ask parents to be alarmed, it happens on its own.
"But we certainly would advise parents to make their children aware of strange danger (???!) and the messages in relation to talking to strangers and what to do if approached by a stranger."
Detective Inspector Gunton say the increased patrols will continue until the perpetrator of the attack on the girl is caught.
The Latrobe Mayor, Mike Gaffney, says close-knit community is in shock and he is urging residents to be on the alert.
"It's a really important reminder to families all across the state just to talk to your children about being aware," he said.
"Small communities like most communities rally around and they do whatever we can, it's just very important until the person is apprehended.
"If you have any information or think something's a bit strange then you need to immediately go to police, no matter how small you think it might be that piece of information could be very, very important."
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