JOHOR BARU: Police are investigating claims of kidnappings that occurred in two areas in the city that had gone viral on WhatsApp yesterday.
Johor Baru Utara deputy police chief Superintendent Fariz Ammar Abdullah said a message was picked up claiming an attempted kidnapping of a child at a kindergarten in Bandar Baru Uda here.
He said the post also mentioned that kidnappings were frequent in Taman Perling and Bandar Baru Uda, both under the jurisdiction of the Johor Baru Utara police headquarters.
"We have identified the individual who uploaded the posting in a WhatsApp group which we believe comprises a group of individuals and members of the local community. Police personnel visited the alleged crime scenes and interviewed some of the individuals there.
"Our investigations revealed there were no reports about kidnappings and no one has come forward to confirm any kidnap attempts or reports of the missing children as claimed by the group," he said in a statement.
Fariz Ammar said however, further investigations were underway. He advised the public not to be easily influenced by viral messages. -- Bernama