Banker's kidnap family ' brave'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6225248.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The family of a bank official who managed to escape after being taken hostage has been described as "very courageous".

The family was kidnapped by armed men in north Belfast on Tuesday night and ransom demands were issued next day.

No money was handed over for their return and no-one was injured.

North Belfast assembly member Alban Maginness said he was horrified by the incident and added that the family had been "very brave".

"This is the first occasion that I have heard where a family has been able to escape and I congratulate them," he said.

"They must be very brave people in doing that in the face of violence. It is an appallingly frightening experience for everyone involved."

Police said family members were uninjured during their ordeal, but said that what had happened was "extremely distressing" for them.

A PSNI spokesperson said detectives wanted to hear from anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the Antrim Road/Fortwilliam area between 2300 BST on Tuesday and 1100 BST on Wednesday.