KINGSTON, Jamaica— A 25-year-old security guard has been removed from The University of the West Indies Mona campus after it is alleged that he attempted to abduct and rape an eight-year-old girl.

Reports are that on Monday, April 22 around 2:15 pm, the young girl was visiting her grandmother on the campus and was walking through an access point on Gordon Boulevard when she was allegedly intercepted by the guard.

It is alleged that the guard diverted the child from her path and attempted to rape her. She then raised an alarm.

A passerby, who heard the child, intervened and the incident was reported to the campus police.

The university’s Director of Security, Norman Heywood, told Observer Online that the guard attached to the King Alarm firm attempted to escape but was apprehended just outside the campus gates.

Heywood shared that while the private firm has been providing services for the university for over a year, he noted that this particular guard had only been placed on the campus two weeks prior to the incident.

The director said that going forward additional background checks will have to be made, in addition to closer monitoring to help ensure safety.

The university is said to be providing counselling for the girl and her grandmother, who is said to be an employee of the university.