The search is on for a 22-year-old Toronto man who police say was kidnapped by armed gunmen while driving in Scarborough Saturday.

According to investigators, Furqan Muhammad-Haroon was driving his van near Midland Ave. and Midwest Rd., south of Ellesmere Rd., around 3:30 p.m. when three men forced him off the road. One man was armed with a gun, police said. Police believe Muhammad-Haroon is alive. The perpetrators didn't take his van, which was found not far from the intersection.

A family member reported the incident, police said. "Right now we're still in the preliminary stages and we're really not sure exactly what led to this," said Det. Karen Hunte. "It's a real mystery."

A day after the alleged kidnapping, Hunte said there were no leads, no tips coming in and no ransom notes for the family, leaving police wondering whether it was a targeted attack or random incident.

Friends of Muhammad-Haroon, an electrical engineering student, are stunned.

"It couldn't have happened to a more unlikely person," said Habiba El-Sayed, a former schoolmate.

Another friend, Akash Chokshi, said that Muhammad-Haroon was never involved in illicit activity.

Described as soft-spoken, friendly and smart, the missing man has an impressive resumé, having worked at IBM and for professors at the University of Toronto.

He was also well known in his religious community. Many friends found out about the abduction after it was announced following morning prayers at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, said Ammar Akhtar.

"Everyone is praying for his safe return in this sacred month of Ramadan," wrote friends Ahmad and Abdullah Parekh in an email.

Muhammad-Haroon was last seen wearing a blue, long-sleeved crewneck shirt and dark blue jeans. He is described as 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds with short, black, wavy hair, dark eyes and a beard but no moustache. He wears glasses.