Darby said at a news conference, adding that police have had only preliminary interviews with the girl. "We have a fragile victim here."

The girl was taken Monday morning from the William C. Bryant School, in west Philadelphia. Authorities released surveillance video showing a woman wearing a full-length, black Muslim garment, her face covered by a black veil, taking the girl out of the school. School policies were apparently not followed, according to district officials, as the woman got the girl straight from her classroom after signing in at the front door - without reporting first to the main office.

Her mother had appeared on local media Monday night, tearfully pleading for her safe return, and explaining how she also wears the traditional chador and niqab.

The Associated Press is notnaming her because it generally doesn't identify alleged victims of sexual assault.

Darby said the suspect went into the school Monday a short time after the girl's mother had dropped her off there. The woman signed in with a hall monitor and then went straight to the girl's classroom. "She indicated that she was the child's mother," Darby said. "And that she was going to take the child to breakfast."

The suspect apparently knew and targeted the girl, Darby said, but the girl did not know her. However, she appeared to go willingly.

Police are looking for the suspect and trying to track down more information. Upper Darby police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said it appears the girl was driven or walked to the playground. Investigators are trying to track down surveillance