Security camera footage has been released showing a person of interest in an attempted abduction of a nine-year-old boy in the city’s Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood.

The incident in question happened Oct. 13 between 8:35 a.m. and 8:55 a.m. in the Thorncliffe Park Drive and Overlea Boulevard area.

Police said a young boy was walking to school when a stranger approached him and grabbed him by the shoulder.

The boy was able to break free from the man’s grip and run to school.

The boy told police the same man approached him later when he left school for lunch, however he ran back to the building and told a teacher.

The man is described as brown, in his 40s to early 50s, standing around six feet. He has short, light brown hair, short light-grey facial hair near his chin and a moustache. He was wearing a white shirt, dark zip-up jacket, black pants with word 'ADIDAS' written near the pocket, Nike shoes with orange on them, and a black hat with an orange circular symbol.

The person of interest shown in the video has a distinct walk and police are appealing to anyone who recognizes him to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5300 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).