Urgent security review at Glenelg Primary School after suspected attempted abduction, as police hose down rumours

Security at Glenelg Primary School will be reviewed urgently after reports a man walked into a building and tried to grab a year 4 girl on Tuesday.

An urgent security review will be conducted at a school where a man allegedly tried to abduct a young student.

Education Minister Blair Boyer has asked the Education Department to send a team to Glenelg Primary School after reports the man approached a year 4 female student inside one of its buildings on Tuesday morning.

Mr Boyer said the audit would be used by the department to consider “if any changes (to security) are needed at Glenelg or across the system”.

“As a father of three young kids, I can understand how scary this incident has been for South Australians,” he said. “But it is important to remember that incidents like what has allegedly happened at Glenelg Primary School are extremely rare.

“Overwhelming, our schools are very safe places and staff do an outstanding job keeping our kids safe.”

WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE HERE

A security car outside Glenelg Primary School on Thursday, as police investigate the attempted child abduction at the school. Picture: Emma Brasier

Mr Boyer said security guards were not requested by schools “very often”.

“It is important that we don’t let a very rare incident result in a disproportionate response,” he said. “Locking our schools up when they are an important community asset, paid for by the South Australian taxpayer, would be a disappointing outcome.”

Australian Education Union (AEU) state president Andrew Gohl agreed it was “very rare” for an individual to enter a school and approach a student.

“The primary concern here is for the safety of the students, teachers and staff,” he said. “The law should be applied to its fullest extent.”

SA Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval said on Thursday extensive investigations, including CCTV footage, had identified no witnesses to the incident at Glenelg Primary School.

New details about the male offender were released by police, including that he had purple nail polish on one thumb, was wearing a distinctive black-coloured ring with white dots and had two earrings in one ear.

“So far, we don’t have a lot of other information to go on aside from the account of this student,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval talks to the media about the alleged abduction attempt at Glenelg Primary School. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards,

Asst Comm Duval said reports of a man going into the school’s toilets and chasing a girl were “categorically incorrect”. However, investigations would continue over the student’s claim she was approached on school grounds.

“So far, we don’t have a lot of other information to go on aside from the account of this student,” he said.

“There have been reports of a man going into the toilets. I can categorically say that is incorrect. There have been other reports that this man chased the student. Again, I can say, this is not true.”

But he said investigations would continue over the student’s claim she had been approached on school grounds.

“We have no other information to suggest it’s not true,” Mr Duval said.

“We are very supportive of the student and the incident that has occurred … if the inference is that this may not have occurred, I cannot put any confirmation to this at all.

“The involvement of the police will not wane until we get to a point where we have exhausted information.”

DEVELOPING: Police have patrolled the perimeter of Glenelg Primary School during the morning drop-off after a reported attempted abduction. A year 4 student claimed she was grabbed by an intruder on Tuesday. The latest in 7NEWS at 11.30am | https://t.co/3ZpKKnvzRf#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/lSX3Ewkurh

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) August 11, 2022

Police said the incident was alleged to have occurred upstairs on the first floor of the main building adjacent to the stairway.

The man reportedly grabbed a girl by the right wrist and pulled her down the stairs on to the middle landing. She was able to pull away and he ran down the stairs and disappeared from view.

Mr Duval said police would continue to support the student and her family and urged anyone with information about a man matching their description to contact Crimestoppers.

“I’m grateful to say that she hasn’t suffered any physical injury, but the mental injury associated with this is something that we absolutely will continue to support the student through,” he said.

Police on patrol around the perimeter of Glenelg Primary School during Thursday morning drop-off. Picture: 7NEWS

The man is described as being about 180cm tall and bald.

He was wearing a knee-length light-blue shirt and black pants, had purple nail polish on one thumb, was wearing a distinctive black-coloured ring with white dots, was wearing a bracelet and had two earrings in one ear.

He also had black pants, a black disposable face mask and a black beanie.

Anyone who may have seen a man matching the description is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“Someone who is not meant to be there – and in this case, approaching a student – is very concerning,” Mr Duval said.

“The amount of deployment to this investigation is really akin to the type of seriousness we put into it.

“Our efforts are going towards finding this man and holding him accountable for his actions.”

A suspected child abduction took place at Glenelg Primary School on Tuesday. Picture: Emma Brasier

Western District police spoke with students, staff and parents over the 48 hours following the incident.

Police said they have viewed significant CCTV footage in the area.

The school is adjacent to a number of different businesses, including a service station to the south, The Holdfast Hotel to the southwest and the Glenelg Football Club to the north.

“I mean where this person went when he left the school, obviously if he passes those businesses, they may have CCTV of it,” he said.