Sharp increase in abducted kids taken abroad this summer

Over the past summer 34 kids were abducted in the Netherlands and taken abroad by one of their parents. A significant increase compared to the 25 kids this happened to last year, according to the International Child Abduction Center, RTL Nieuws reports Center director Coskun Coruz calls the increase worrying and is concerned that the actual number may be much higher. "We only know about the cases that are reported, so this is only part of the total", he said to broadcaster NOS. "Better information can hopefully help." Parents are only allowed to take their children abroad if both parents consent. Most of the 34 kids were taken to Spain, followed by Russia and Turkey. In more than half of the cases the mother was the abducting parent. The Koninklijke Marechaussee, a policing force that works as part of the Dutch military and is responsible for airport and border security, paid extra attention to single adults traveling with a child. The Marechaussee is working with the police and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Security and Justice to try and reduce the number of abductions, Coruz said.