Six Toddlers Escape Petah Tikva Kindergarten, Found Near Busy Road

Six toddlers, all around two years old, escaped from a kindergarten in Petah Tikva on Sunday, October 11, 2026, without adult supervision. Three of the children wandered about a kilometer away from the facility and ended up near a busy road, according to Israel National News. The incident occurred in the morning, shortly after parents had dropped off their children. One mother reported receiving a call from the kindergarten director just 15 minutes after leaving, informing her of her son's disappearance. Preliminary findings suggest only one staff member was present in the yard at the time, supervising over twenty children, while two other employees were washing the floor. The main gate of the kindergarten was found to have been left open. Four of the children left the premises on toy cars, while two walked out. One girl was found on the steps near an emergency exit, two other children were discovered on a nearby street playground, and the remaining three were located by searchers fifteen minutes later approximately one kilometer from the kindergarten. These children had crossed a pedestrian crossing and were near a busy highway when a passerby noticed them and alerted the police, facilitating their safe return. Parents have strongly condemned the incident and demanded a thorough investigation by city authorities and supervisory bodies. A police report has been filed, and the Petah Tikva municipality and the Ministry of Education have been officially notified.