Police say a young boy was able to escape the grip of a man during an attempted abduction in East Kildonan on Saturday afternoon.

The 11-year-old boy was walking alone in the area of Simpson Avenue and Besant Street at around 4 p.m. when a van drove up behind him, police said.

Police said the man got out of the van and yelled, "Get in my car now."

The boy tried to run away but police said the man grabbed his right wrist and tried to drag him towards the van.

The boy began yelling and hitting at the man's arm and police said he eventually broke free and ran home.

Police said the boy did sustain a minor injury during the attempted abduction.

The suspect is described as about 24 years old, medium build, and between six-foot-three and six-foot-six tall. The man had dark, medium-length hair, a dark thin goatee and a moustache. The suspect also had stained, yellowing teeth with some missing and a tattoo of a cross on his right forearm.

The suspect was wearing a black hoodie with some white on the front, black pants with a hole in the left knee, black shoes with white trim around the sole area and sunglasses.

Police said the van was a newer model, possibly a Dodge Caravan, with tinted windows and red colouring on the rear bumper.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact detectives at 204-986-2857 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.