A MAN and a woman allegedly posing as healthcare workers attempted to abduct the nine-year-old son of Mr Philip Lawrence, the headmaster who was murdered outside his London school last year, Scotland Yard has confirmed.
The attempted abduction took place on Wednesday afternoon and the couple, who asked for the boy, Lucien, by name, left the house when police were called.
It is understood that Lucien Lawrence was at home in Ealing just after 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday when the couple arrived and told his mother, Ms Frances Lawrence, that they were from the Social Services Department and wanted to take her son away for a health check. However, when Ms Lawrence became suspicious and telephoned the police and her local doctor, the couple left.
The policeman in charge of the investigation, Det Insp Alan Gale, said the couple asked to take Lucien to the local health centre, "apparently for a check-up".
"She was suspicious and refused them access to her son. She made inquiries to her local doctor and contacted the police. They used her son's name. I can't say whether this is a specific attempt against Ms Lawrence or an ad hoc attempt. Ms Lawrence is obviously very upset with this incident and I would ask that the media respect her privacy at this traumatic time," Insp Gale said.
Ms Lawrence spent yesterday morning giving a detailed description of the couple to police officers while a detective brought Lucien to his school nearby. It has also emerged that Ms Lawrence has made an allegation that since September she has been stalked by a man wearing a mask, although Scotland Yard is refusing to speculate on a connection between the alleged incidents.
Tomorrow is the first anniversary of Mr Lawrence's death. A memorial service will be held in London to highlight the Philip Lawrence good citizenship awards.