Three men were jailed after a planned kidnapping in Hull was foiled following a tip from an Airbnb host in Goxhill.

A gang planning a serious kidnapping was arrested in Goxhill, Yorkshire, after an Airbnb host reported suspicious activity. On January 28, 2025, police responded to a booking made under a woman’s name but occupied by men, leading to a chase and the arrest of three men. Officers found a kidnapping kit—including balaclavas, ropes, hammers, and nails—along with a stolen van and firearm at the property. The group, from across the UK, had planned to abduct someone at a target location in Hull. Three men were jailed for a combined 28 years, while two women received lighter sentences. One man was acquitted. Authorities called the plot disturbing and emphasized the role of public vigilance in preventing violent crime.