The British police have foiled a plot to abduct Prime Minister Tony Blair’s five-year-old son Leo, security sources said here today. Extremists from a splinter group linked to the Fathers 4 Justice Pressure group planned to abduct the child as a publicity stunt to highlight its cause. However, the plot was intercepted before Christmas, said sources as quoted in British dailies. No details were given of the plot. But it is understood the men only wanted to hold Leo for a short period of time and were not intending to harm him. “Fortunately we think we have nipped this in the bud at an early stage. There have been no arrests although inquiries are continuing,” the sources said. Blair and his wife Cherie were told about the threat to Leo, the youngest of their four children. “They were naturally very concerned, as any parent would be. But they have been assured the police are on top of the situation,” a security source said. A security assessment of the Prime Minister’s family was carried out by special branch after the plot was uncovered. It included analysis of the protection given to the Blairs’ other three children - Euan, 22, Nicholas, 20, and 17-year-old Kathryn.
