Two men have been charged after a man was allegedly beaten and dragged into a vehicle in a “brazen” kidnapping, police have said.

A number of “shocked” witnesses saw two men get out of a grey Ford transit van and punch a man a number of times before dragging him into the back of the vehicle “in broad daylight” and driving away.

A third suspect was also inside the van during the attack in South Woodford in north London on Sunday afternoon, the Metropolitan Police said.

A black BMW, whose driver had been speaking with the victim moments before the van arrived, followed closely behind the Ford as it left the scene on Queen Mary Avenue, E18.

Officers, who were called at around 3pm to reports a man had been kidnapped, traced the van to nearby Chigwell.

The vehicle was stopped in Brooks Parade, where three men ran away.

Two men – aged in their 20s – were arrested nearby and were later charged.

The victim – aged in his 30s – was recovered from the back of the van and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police have asked the public for help in tracing the third suspect in the van, as well as the driver of the BMW.

Detective Sergeant Sajid Asghar, from the Met’s East Area Command Unit, said: “This was a brazen act on the part of the suspects; carried out in broad daylight while a number of shocked witnesses looked on.

“Thankfully officers responded swiftly to get the victim to safety, and we are now appealing to the public to help us apprehend and bring to justice the dangerous individuals responsible.”

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