A MAN grabbed by a gang as he was escorted from a prison van may have been kidnapped.

Aaron Williams, aged 21, screamed, "Don't let them take me" as three masked men, armed with knives, dragged him from the van.

The gang struck at 7.50am yesteday outside Salford Magistrates' Court as Williams was being taken to court from a police station.

The van's tyres were slashed, the driver was punched and a female security office was threatened as Williams was dragged out and bundled into a stolen silver Vauxhall Zafira. It sped off and was later found abandoned a mile away in Salford.

Police are treating the incident as a possible kidnapping as Williams, of Lower Broughton, Salford, was only in custody for a minor theft offence and failing to turn up at court for a hearing.

Detective Inspector Danny Woodward, of Salford CID, there was no information yet to suggest the attack was gang-related.

Williams was being transferred to the court after being arrested on a warrant on Wednesday for failing to appear at court on a theft charge last month.

The armed gang are believed to be in their early 20s and spoke with local accents. They were wearing dark clothing and black balaclavas.

DI Woodward said: "There are concerns at the moment about the exact circumstances of this incident and I'd like to assure the public we are doing all we can to trace Aaron."

He added: "We are keeping an open mind as to why someone would want to take him."

He also said it was a "frightening attack" and was "very upsetting" for the guards.

Service company GSL, which was responsible for the prison transfer, said it was a "very serious incident".