A major police operation is underway following the reported abduction of a woman at a bus stop on the Gold Coast.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at approximately 4:30pm on Highfield Drive in Merrimac. Witnesses reported seeing a woman being forced into a ute. Multiple police units, including the police air service (Polair), were deployed to search for the vehicle.
The ute was later found abandoned in the car park of a Bunnings store in Burleigh. The woman, who had escaped from her abductors, sought help at a nearby McDonald's. Two men, believed to be responsible for the abduction, fled the scene.
The incident took place near All Saints Anglican School, which was subsequently placed on lockdown. A parent reported the incident on X (formerly Twitter), stating: "Just had to lock down my kid's school due to the manhunt in Burleigh Waters."
The woman is reported to be uninjured but is recovering from the ordeal.
A Queensland Police spokesperson confirmed that officers are investigating the incident. "Investigations are ongoing into an incident in Merrimac this evening," they stated. "Police have located the vehicle and have spoken with the parties involved. There is no threat to public safety."
Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact them immediately.