A father abducted his two young children after forcibly entering a daycare center in Thessaloniki on Friday morning.

According to authorities, the 49-year-old man, who had been separated from his 44-year-old wife, went to the daycare where their two children, aged 2 and 4, were enrolled. Witnesses said he broke down the door, entered the classroom, grabbed the children, and ran from the building.

Parents who were outside the daycare at the time attempted to stop him, unaware of the full situation, but the man managed to escape with the children.

The daycare director immediately notified police and contacted the children’s mother, who was working outside Thessaloniki at the time of the incident.

As of now, the mother has not filed a formal complaint. The case is further complicated by the legal framework, as the couple was separated but not officially divorced, creating uncertainty over custody and potential criminal liability.