Police are searching for a man wanted in connection with the abduction of an 8-year-old girl, who is now safe, near Blaydon Public School in North York.

According to police, it is reported that an 8-year-old girl was walking in the area around 3:30 p.m. on Friday when she was approached by a “strange” man who grabbed her, covered her mouth with his hand and dragged her 60 metres to an SUV.

Police said the man tried to force the girl into his SUV but she broke free and ran away. According to police, the girl located a parent she knew who contacted the police. She is now safe.

Around 8:50 p.m. on Friday, Toronto police responded to a call for a suspicious incident in the area of Langholm Dr. and Blaydon Ave., near the intersection of Sheppard Ave. W and Keele St.

Const. David Hopkinson said the police are considering the incident an abduction rather than an attempted abduction given that the man had possession of the girl before she broke free.

“It was only when the man took one hand off her to open the SUV door that she was able to escape,” said Hopkinson. “The period of time where the man lifted her off the ground and dragged her to the car is what we’re considering an abduction.”

The man was completely unknown to the girl, Hopkinson said.

He is described as white, between the ages of 40-50, 5’8” with a skinny build and short grey hair. Police say he was wearing a blue and pink t-shirt, grey sweat pants, and black dress shoes. He drove away in what is believed to be a red Mazda CX-5 with tinted windows, police say.

Police released security camera footage of the car.