Three people charged as search continues for man abducted from Lancashire supermarket in broad daylight

A man was reportedly bundled into a burgundy Skoda estate car and driven off by a group of men outside the Tesco store in Hill Street at around 12.20pm on Friday (March 5).

Detectives have now released CCTV footage of a man they believe is the person who was taken against their will.

Pictures of a second man who was walking along Whitebirk Road shortly after the incident have also been released by police.

Officers said urgent enquiries are still ongoing and they need the public’s help to ensure the man is safe and well.

DCI Derry Crorken, of East CID, said: "Our priority is to find these two men safe and well and while we have our own enquiries ongoing I would appeal to anyone who has seen them or knows who they are to get in touch as a matter of urgency. If either of these two men see this appeal I would also urge them to contact us.

"While we have now charged three people and arrested a further four individuals our enquiries are very much ongoing and I would appeal for anyone with any information to get in touch.

"I am also keen to hear from anyone who has information about either the burgundy or blue Skoda estate cars which we believe were used during this incident. If anyone has any information, however insignificant they feel it may be, I would urge them to call us."

Three men have now been charged in connection with the investigation.

Gratas Miktus, 24, Mantas Viktus, 26 and Luksys Liudvitkas, 25, all appeared before magistrates in Blackburn yesterday (Tuesday, March 9) charged with kidnap.

They were all remanded into custody and will appear at the Crown Court in due course.

Four men were arrested yesterday in the Peterborough area on suspicion of kidnap.

Three men – aged 32, 33, and 35 – have been released under investigation.

A fourth man – aged 32 – currently remains in custody.

Police still want information on the burgundy Skoda estate with the registration KM11 BUO.

Detectives have reviewed CCTV in the area and believe the Skoda travelled to the Gloucester Road/Burnley Road area of the town after the incident.

Information is also wanted about the movements of a blue Skoda estate with the registration LF56 ZDC.

Officers believe this is the car the offenders arrived in before then leaving in the burgundy estate.

Both vehicles were seen in the Audley Range area of Blackburn at around midday on March 5 and detectives are keen to speak to anybody who saw them or captured them on CCTV around that time.

Anyone with information has been urged to contact police by calling 101, quoting log number 0545 of Friday, March 5. In an emergency call 999.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website crimestoppers-uk.org.

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