The body of a boy thought to be missing Mikaeel was recovered by police shortly before midnight. Officers have detained his 33-year-old mother, Rosdeep Kular.
Sky News have reported a house belonging to Mikaeel's aunt, the sister of his mother, had been sealed off by police during the night and that a 'major operation' is under way there.
The body of a young boy has been discovered in
Fife more than 40 miles from the child's home in Edinburgh. It is
understood his mother, Rosie Kular (right) has been detained by police
for questioning. A house in Fife, thought to belong to the boy's aunt,
has reportedly been sealed off overnight
+20
The body was found in Fife, 40 miles away from where his mother said he was last seen in Edinburgh on Wednesday
Police have cordoned off a house in Kirkcaldy,
Fife in connection to the discovery of a child's body. Reports suggest
it is Mikaeel's aunt's home
Body of young boy recovered in Fife and one
person detained by police searching for missing toddler Mikaeel Kular.
Mikaeel, a twin, was said to have slept in a different room than usual
the night before his disappearance
It said woodland around the house had also been taped off to prevent access and forensics officers had been at the scene.
The area was close to a home where Mikaeel's family previously lived and is about 40 minutes from Edinburgh, it was claimed.
The discovery of the body was revealed in a dramatic 1am press conference that brought to an end 48 hours of increasingly frantic searches for Mikaeel, who was reported missing by his mother on Thursday morning.
Hundreds of members of the public joined police and specialist teams combing the area of Edinburgh where he lived.
Speaking outside police headquarters in the city, Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said: ‘I can confirm that we have recovered the body of a young boy in Fife before midnight. We have informed the family and the investigation continues.
‘We have detained a person in connection with the death.’
He thanked members of the public for assisting with the searches.
Mikaeel had not been seen at his nursery since before Christmas.
Police confirmed teachers had not seen him at Flora Stevenson primary school nursery in Edinburgh for almost a month because of an apparent chest infection.
They had contacted ports and airports nationwide amid fears he could have been taken out of the country.
Mikaeel was first reported missing on Thursday morning by his mother, who said she went to his room at their Edinburgh flat to wake him and was horrified to discover he had disappeared from his bed overnight.
Also gone were his beige hooded coat, multi-coloured gloves and brown Velcro shoes.
A lock was broken at the rear of the block of
flats where Mikaeel Kular lived. Residents said the door had been
insecure for some time
People also brought their dogs along for the search, as possible sightings were reported in the area
Working together: Firefighters, police and
volunteers formed one long line to examine the shore on the second day
of the search operation
Scene: Mikaeel disappeared from his home in
Ferry Gait Drive on Wednesday evening at 9pm. There was a possible
sighting of him in West Pilton the following morning. Rescuers and
volunteers have been searching the shoreline in the Silverknowes Area
and have also covered Gipsy Brae Recreation Ground during the operation.
The coastguard has sent patrols into the Firth of Forth. His body was
found approximately 40 miles away in Fife
Police probe: Officers combing the ground around Ferry Gait Crescent, where the boy lived
Shore: A police officer walks along Crammond Beach during the major search operation in the Scottish capital
There was confusion over when he was last seen in public by anyone other than his family.
Before the discovery, Assistant Chief Constable Graham said there was ‘grave concern’ about what had happened to Mikaeel and it was ‘entirely possible’ he had been the victim of a horrific crime.
‘He was last seen on Wednesday night by his mother and after all the work we have been doing we have been unable to confirm any sighting of Mikaeel,’ he said.
‘It is entirely possible that Mikaeel has left the house of his own accord. It is, however, entirely possible he has been the subject of a criminal act. Everything is being – and will be – fully explored.’
A large scale search for the little boy had seen police officers searching parks, shrubbery and gardens as coastguards combed Edinburgh’s north shore in lifeboats. Earlier yesterday, forensic teams searched Miss Kular’s home, and officers checked bins and bushes surrounding the modern apartment block.
Mikaeel was last seen by his family on Wednesday evening at 9pm, when he was put to bed alone, wearing his grey and turquoise pyjamas. He usually shared a bedroom with his twin sister Ashika, but she was in another room because Mikaeel was unwell.
When his mother – whose detention was reported by Sky News – went to wake him just after 7am the following morning, she said he had disappeared. She told police she could not find his thigh-length beige hooded coat, brown Clarks Velcro shoes and black gloves with multi-coloured fingers.
It has since emerged that Mikaeel was last seen at his nursery on the last day of term, December 19. Children returned on January 7. Mikaeel usually attended every weekday between 12.30pm and 3pm with his twin.
Keen: Volunteers are believed to have come from all over Scotland to the centre in Edinburgh
Mothers of children in their class confirmed last night that he had been absent before he was reported missing.
Michaela Reynolds, 27, said Miss Kular took Ashika to the nursery on Wednesday morning, but Mikaeel was nowhere to be seen. Mounted police and others with dogs were among hundreds of officers looking for Mikaeel, and hundreds of local residents joined in, including mothers pushing prams.
Nicola Hunter, 31, from Muirhouse, who has two sons aged 11 and five, said: ‘I am a mum and I just want to try and help.’
Inspector David Happs said: ‘The community spirit has been fantastic.’
Nicola Hunter, 31, from Muirhouse, who has two sons aged 11 and five, said: ‘I am a mum and I just want to try and help.’
Inspector David Happs said: ‘The community spirit has been fantastic.’
Other emergency services and local organisations have also joined the effort. A Child Rescue Alert has been issued to all UK forces and a missing person appeal is to be displayed on digital billboards across the country.
Neighbours claimed that it was unlikely the boy left home of his own accord as the apartment block front door is so heavy.
No comments:
Post a Comment