The Ministry of Education and Youth is probing whether there were breaches of established protocols regarding the safety and security of the students at the Braeton Primary and Infant School in St Catherine amid reports that an eight-year-old student was kidnapped.

Reports are that a Grade 2 female student was abducted from the school on Thursday (June 8). The eight-year-old girl was found by a soldier in Swallowfield with her throat slashed, and admitted to the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

The hospital contacted the school using the crest on her uniform, and the principal immediately advised her parents of the unfortunate incident. The student underwent surgery, and there is an urgent appeal for blood given her critical condition.

“This is another regrettable barbaric attack on one of our vulnerable children. We all have a duty of care for our children, wherever they are, and must do all we can to protect them,” portfolio minister Fayval Williams said.

The school employs three regular and two relief watchmen in keeping with the establishment for watching service. The police have since questioned the watchman who was on duty at the time of the incident.

In condemning the attack on the child, Williams has appealed for anyone with information that can assist the police with their investigations to come forward.

She is also urging the public to support the appeal to donate blood at the National Blood Bank for the little girl.

The probe to determine whether there was a security breach is being conducted through the Ministry’s Regional Office, Guidance and Counselling Unit as well as Safety and Security Unit.