Police in Port Elizabeth have arrested a 49-year-old man in connection with the abduction of two little girls from New Brighton.
Police Spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge says the girls, aged 5 and 6 were playing in the street in the Chris Hani township on Wednesday afternoon when they were abducted.
Beetge says when the girls did not return home by 6 pm their parents and members of the community started looking for them.
They eventually contacted police who launched a massive search involving police helicopters and the K9-unit.
Beetge says the 6-year-old girl was found shortly after midnight, severely assaulted with stab wounds to her head.
He says she was still alive and managed to give police enough information which eventually led them to the suspect's shack.
Police then found the 5-year-old girl just before 5 am on Thursday morning, in the suspect's bed.
He says she had no visible injuries on her body.
Police are investigating a case of attempted murder, abduction and possible rape, depending on the outcome of a medical examination.
Both children are receiving trauma counselling.
Police appealed to the community to safeguard their children.
