Three year old missing in Edinburgh

http://news.stv.tv/east-central/260526-police-in-edinburgh-searching-for-mikael-kular-missing-from-ferry-gait/

Three-year-old boy disappears from bed sparking hunt across Edinburgh
STV 16 January 2014 08:56 GMT

A three-year-old child has gone missing from his bed overnight sparking a massive police hunt.

Mikaeel Kular was put to bed in his home by his mother in Ferry Gait Crescent, in the Drylaw area of Edinburgh at 9pm on Wednesday.

When she went to check on him at 7.20am on Thursday, he was not in the house.

Mikaeel lives with his mother and four siblings, including a twin sister, in the house and they are described as a "large family".

A police helicopter has been launched in the area to help with the search.

Officers could be seen searching bushes and other pockets of vegetation in the area.

The child is 3ft tall and is possibly wearing a beige hooded jacket, brown shoes and nightwear.

Anyone who believes they have seen him since Wednesday night or Thursday morning is asked to contact police immediately


Police spokeswoman Chief Inspector Sara Buchanan said: "We have currently got a large police presence within the Drylaw area as we conduct our inquiries to trace Mikaeel.

"We are keen to hear from anyone who remembers seeing a young boy matching his description since yesterday evening to contact police immediately.

"As part of our investigation we are also trying to determine how the child has left his home and anyone with information that can assist with these inquiries is also asked to get in touch."

Superintendent Liz McAinsh told reporters at a press conference on Thursday morning that Mikaeel was in the house with his mother and four siblings when he was last seen.

She said: "There is no evidence to suggest criminality at the moment but clearly we are keeping an open mind.

"We're a big organisation now with Police Scotland and we are using all of the resources at our disposal to look for this three-year-old boy."


Asked whether she thought Mikaeel may have left of his own accord, Ms McAinsh told reporters: "We know that his jacket and shoes are not within the property so we are following up all lines of inquiry in that regard. We don't know if he may have left of his own volition , but obviously that's one line of inquiry we are following up."

Asked whether there were any custody issues with the family, she told reporters: "Obviously we are following all lines of inquiry, there are no concerns that we have at the moment . We are following all lines of inquiry with all partner agencies and with the family and the family are being very helpful at the moment.

"As you can imagine, Mikaeel's mother is distraught. She just wants our help and the public's help in finding her little boy."

Supt McAinsh said officers had been in touch with the local nursery which Mikaeel attends.

She said: "They say Mikaeel is a friendly, playful wee boy and they are obviously concerned for his safety as well and will do everything they can to help us in finding Mikaeel."

She urged local residents to check outbuildings, garages, back gardens our common stairs for any sign of the boy.

She said; "It's cold, it's the middle of winter, we want to get Mikaeel home as quickly as we can."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


Here's hoping Mikaeel is found safe and well before much longer.

Live updates here:

http://news.sky.com/story/1196095/live-updates-search-for-missing-mikaeel-kular

Please note, the Scottish police are involving the press and public in their efforts to find the child, instead of trying to keep it secret.

Hunt For Missing Mikaeel Kular: Man Detained
Witnesses report sudden police activity at a flat near the home of a missing three-year-old boy in Edinburgh

Sky News' Scotland Correspondent has reported that a man may have been held as part of a police operation to trace a boy who went missing from his home last night.

James Matthews said he was about half a mile from three-year-old Mikaeel Kular's home address in Ferry Gait, Edinburgh.

He is with a witness, Donald Cockburn, who said he saw up to nine police cars suddenly arrive at a first floor flat nearby in Waterfront Gait in Granton.

Officers went into the flat at about 11.45am and a man was taken away in a police van, the witness said.

More at:

http://news.sky.com/story/1196009/hunt-for-missing-mikaeel-kular-man-detained

The police are doing everything possible to try to find the boy. Kudos to them.

Missing Edinburgh Boy: Mother 'Distraught'
A UK-wide dedicated phoneline is set up to help trace the youngster, as coastguard search the shoreline near where he vanished.

More at:

http://news.sky.com/story/1196009/missing-edinburgh-boy-mother-distraught

and

http://news.stv.tv/east-central/260526-police-in-edinburgh-searching-for-mikael-kular-missing-from-ferry-gait/

Am impressed by what the police are doing.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of a three-year-old boy in Edinburgh are now examining a second address in the city.

Forensic teams are collecting evidence at a block of flats near Mikaeel Kular's home, while Police Scotland have activated a Child Rescue Alert throughout the UK.

It allows officers to interrupt television and radio programmes with news flashes, while members of the public are urged to call 0300 200 0200 if they have any information that may help police locate the missing youngster.

They certainly aren't wasting any time; a heat-seeking helicopter was up earlier, I read somewhere, but with no result.

It makes sense that what they are doing is the best possible way to find him sooner rather than later.

Brunt is on Sky just now, looking chilled to the bone. He's stated that a Child Rescue Alert is normally only issued when there is good reason to believe an abduction has taken place.

I pray Mikaeel is safely with a misguided relative, and not somewhere out in the cold, dark night.

Me too, Bonny. That way he would be safe. It is truly worrying.

His mother must be beside herself.

well done police, keep up the good work.

The mountain rescue teams have joined in now, Pedro - apparently, they are well-skilled in searching for people in the dark.

I am praying the child's been taken without consent by a relative, and we will wake up to good news tomorrow.

Amen to that Bonny.

No more news this morning, sadly - big search parties are going out today:

http://news.sky.com/story/1196463/mikaeel-kular-search-enters-second-day

As is being pointed out, it's a difficult area, because it seems urban, but in fact there are beaches, fields, golf courses, etc., close at hand.

More detail here:

http://news.stv.tv/east-central/260662-the-search-for-mikaeel-kular-from-ferry-gait-in-edinburgh-into-second-day/

On Friday, police said there had been a potential sighting of Mikaeel walking in West Pilton Gardens at 8.30am on Thursday morning.

The people who saw the boy were driving down the street when they saw him and he was running towards the junction with West Pilton Park.

The boy was seen on CCTV but the pictures do not confirm whether or not it was Mikaeel.

Superintendent Liz McAinsh said: "Since Mikaeel was reported missing, we have been contacted by a number of people with information which we have been working to assess and respond to.

"Members of the public have come forward to report seeing a boy walking in the vicinity of West Pilton Gardens at 8.30am yesterday. The witnesses were in a vehicle driving down West Pilton Gardens at the time they saw the boy.

"They described seeing a small boy on the right hand side pavement running towards the junction with West Pilton Park. They noticed him because he was small in build and alone at the time. They said he matched the description given of Mikaeel although they also reported the child they saw was wearing a cap or hat.

"We would ask that anyone who also saw this child contact us as a matter of urgency. We need to confirm if this was Mikaeel or if it was another child. If it is your child who was out at this time and in this location, we want to hear from you so we can emliminate this line of inquiry as swiftly as possible."

Do hope this ends well.

There has been a massive turnout of people to help search for Mikaeel:

http://news.stv.tv/east-central/260662-the-search-for-mikaeel-kular-from-ferry-gait-in-edinburgh-into-second-day/




It won't be helping that daylight hours are so short just now - the light will be gone again in little more than an hour, and dark until well after 8 am tomorrow.

Such a positive response to this awful news. Hope they find him soon.

James Matthews
@jamesmatthewsky
Police news conference re #missing #MikaeelKular imminent. Live @SkyNews
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Kat Storr (Higgins)
@KatStorrSky
Police update on #MikaeelKular due any moment

I hope they have some news, it's dark again.

Hope so too, Bonny.