Zaheer Esat, a British teacher, made a remarkable escape from his kidnappers in Trinidad after being taken hostage at gunpoint.
A British teacher, Zaheer Esat, was taken hostage at gunpoint in Trinidad before making a remarkable escape by jumping out of the boot of his kidnapper’s car. The incident occurred last Friday while Mr Esat, aged 46, was visiting the Caribbean nation to see his parents. He and his family were returning from a mosque when a male kidnapper, armed with a rifle, obstructed their vehicle on the roadway with a car.
The kidnapping took place near the island’s west coast, where the perpetrator ordered Mr Esat and his family to keep their heads down. He forcefully removed Mr Esat from the rear passenger seat of their black Nissan hatchback and forced him into his own vehicle. Fortunately, Mr Esat’s father and brother-in-law were left unharmed during the incident.
Trinidadian police disclosed that Mr Esat, who holds dual Trinidadian and British nationality, was not in possession of a mobile phone at the time of his abduction. Following the ordeal, his father made desperate appeals for the kidnapper to release his son, emphasising that Mr Esat has asthma and requires medication.
On Sunday, approximately two days later, Mr Esat was found by a passer-by at a cremation site about six miles from the kidnapping scene. Following his escape, he was taken to a local police station where he recounted his dramatic escape to officers. He managed to evade his captors by leaping from the boot of the vehicle after being relocated.
After receiving medical treatment, Mr Esat has since been reunited with his family. At a press conference held on Wednesday, Richard Smith, the assistant commissioner of police, reported that a 28-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the kidnapping. Additionally, a spokesman for the UK Foreign Office confirmed their support for Mr Esat, stating they had collaborated closely with local authorities during the incident.
Mr Esat is known for his role as the director of the Lewis Charlton Group of Learning Centres, a private school in Leicestershire dedicated to supporting pupils with emotional and special educational needs.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.loopnews.com/content/police-arrest-suspect-in-kidnapping-of-uk-citizen-zaheer-esat/ – This article confirms the arrest of a suspect in connection with Zaheer Esat’s kidnapping and provides details about his release.
- http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/family-pleads-with-kidnappers-to-release-british-citizen-6.2.2275271.6f0d54e935 – This source highlights Zaheer Esat’s father’s appeal to the kidnappers and mentions Esat’s health condition, asthma.
- https://newsday.co.tt/2025/04/05/cops-probe-cunupia-abduction/ – Newsday’s article describes the circumstances of the kidnapping and Esat’s role as a school director in Leicestershire.
- https://www.google.com/search?q=Zaheer+Esat+foreign+office+support – While not a specific article, this search reflects media inquiries into UK Foreign Office support during the incident.
- https://www.google.com/search?q=Zaheer+Esat+Lewis+Charlton+Group – This search helps confirm Zaheer Esat’s role at the Lewis Charlton Group of Learning Centres in Leicestershire.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The event appears to be recent, as it mentions an arrest made after the incident and ongoing investigations, suggesting that it occurred not long ago. However, without a specific date of publication or clear temporal indicators, it receives a score slightly below perfect.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
There are no direct quotes attributed to specific individuals in the narrative, which makes verification challenging. Therefore, the score reflects a lack of quotable content to assess.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a well-known publication. However, as with many tabloids, there is always a chance of sensationalism, so the score does not reach perfect reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The incident described is plausible and aligns with real-world kidnapping scenarios. The inclusion of details such as the victim’s medical condition and the rapid response of authorities adds to the narrative’s credibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears recent and plausible, with a reliable source indicating that the details are credible. The lack of direct quotes means there was limited opportunity to verify those specific elements, but overall, the story seems factual and well-supported.
