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Teenagers charged in attempted abductions of girls in Queens Village: NYPD

By Rich Bockmann

Two southeast Queens teens were arrested and charged in two attempted abductions of young girls Wednesday, the NYPD said.

Joshua Wright, 17, of Cambria Heights and Andrew Ghulam, 16, of Hollis were both charged with two counts of attempted unlawful imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal possession of a weapon and harassment, police said Thursday evening.

Earlier in the day authorities said they were searching for two men in a green SUV who allegedly tried to grab young girls in separate Queens Village incidents Wednesday afternoon.

Police said the SUV slowly followed an 11-year-old girl as she walked home from school near 111th Avenue and 208th Street in Queens Village around 4 p.m. before one suspect allegedly got out of the vehicle wearing a black mask and attempted to talk to the girl, who then ran away.

The NYPD said the suspects then allegedly moved on to two young girls walking near Daniel O’Connell Playground at 113th Avenue and 196th Street, police said.

The SUV’s driver allegedly passed a gun to the other, who pulled his mask down and got out of the vehicle as the two girls ran and hid behind a parked car, the NYPD said.

The suspects then allegedly drove by, circled around and left, according to cops.

Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 718-260-4574.