On the evening of February 13, Mrs. Tran Thi My Diep, Chairwoman of Phuoc Hiep Commune People’s Committee, Tuy Phuoc District, Binh Dinh Province, officially confirmed that the information about a 3rd-grade student from Phuoc Hiep Primary School No. 2 being abducted, which spread on Facebook, was false. The incident caused public concern and garnered significant attention in the community.
Image related to the incident showing a car parked near the school
Initial Information and Incident Timeline
On the morning of February 13, a Facebook account suddenly posted information claiming that a 3rd-grade student at Phuoc Hiep Primary School No. 2 had been abducted. According to the shared content, a group of strangers in a car with TP.HCM license plates parked in front of the school gate and attempted to pull a student into the vehicle. Fortunately, the child managed to escape. As the information spread, many parents and social media users became anxious and worried.
The matter was quickly reported to the Phuoc Hiep Commune People’s Committee and the local Department of Education and Training. Recognizing the seriousness of the issue, the commune People’s Committee instructed local police forces to investigate and clarify the situation.
Investigation Results from Authorities
According to a report from the Phuoc Hiep Commune Police, at around 9 a.m. that day, the unit received feedback from the leadership of Phuoc Hiep Primary School No. 2 regarding a suspected abduction that occurred at 8:25 a.m. Mrs. Mai Thi Vinh, the school principal, stated that during recess, teachers noticed student V.L.T.A., from class 3A, crying in a state of panic. The child recounted that a stranger approached them, offering candy, and tried to pull them into a car, but they managed to escape.
However, after interviewing A. with the presence of their family, authorities confirmed that no abduction took place as described by the child. In reality, A. admitted to fabricating the story out of fear after seeing a stranger pointing at them.
Mrs. Tran Thi My Diep further explained that A. had previously been taught by adults how to prevent child abductions. Therefore, when encountering an unusual situation, the child imagined the story and recounted it to the teacher.
Verification of the Related Vehicle
Authorities also investigated the Fortuner SUV with license plate 51F-373.xx parked in front of the school during the incident. The investigation revealed that Mr. P.T.H., director of a local company, had rented the vehicle for business near the school. Mr. H. and his companions were unrelated to the incident and only learned about it when summoned by the police for questioning.
Lessons Learned from the Incident
This incident serves as an important reminder of the need to verify information before sharing it on social media. While educating children on anti-abduction skills is essential, it is equally important to guide them on appropriate reactions to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
Additionally, this is also a lesson for the online community. In the era of information overload, individuals must take responsibility when spreading news, especially sensitive information related to security and societal safety.
Conclusion
Through this incident, we see the importance of being cautious when receiving and sharing information. To protect ourselves and our communities, always thoroughly check the source and reliability of information before deciding to share it. Let’s work together to build a healthier and safer online environment.
Source: Dan Tri
