A man who was dragged from his car and beaten up on a main road near Roermond last week is being investigated in connection with the abuse of a 12-year-old girl.

The man was driving along the A73 on Thursday evening when several other cars cut him off, forcing him to stop.

Limburg media said on Tuesday the man had made an appointment with the girl via social media. The vigilante group came to hear about the meeting and gave chase.

They corned him on a motorway slip road, dragged him from the car and attacked him. Police intervened and the man was taken to hospital for treatment. He was then arrested.

He is under investigation for sexual abuse or attempted sexual abuse of a minor, the Limburg papers said.

The man is said to be Dutch but no further details are being released. He is due to appear in court later on Tuesday.