April Jones abduction: Search continues around Machynlleth
April Jones abduction: Search continues around Machynlleth
(35 minutes later)
Police and emergency services are continuing their search for missing five-year-old girl April Jones.
Police and emergency services are continuing their search for missing five-year-old girl April Jones.
Officers from north and south Wales helped Dyfed Powys Police search along the River Dyfi as the operation entered its third day.
Supt Ian John said there was no news on April's whereabouts but a "methodical" search was under way. He said volunteers were no longer needed.
April Jones was with friends near her Machynlleth home when she got into a van at 19:00 BST on Monday.
April was with friends near her Machynlleth home when she got into a van at 19:00 BST on Monday.
Police have been questioning a 46-year-old man, named locally as Mark Bridger. A news conference is due at 07:30 BST.
Police have been questioning a 46-year-old man, named locally as Mark Bridger, and say they anticipate "intelligence".
They said they have been "overwhelmed" by the response from volunteers but now urged the public to leave the search to trained teams.
Supt John said more than 40 skilled officers, including dog handlers, searched overnight.
North Wales Police officers assisted Dyfed-Powys Police in the search overnight, and the South Wales force sent a team of eight search specialists.
Coastguard teams from Aberystwyth, Borth, Aberdyfi and Harlech as well as RNLI inshore lifeboat teams, also from Borth and Aberdyfi, have assisted.
A spokesman for Milford Haven Coastguard said they expect to continue their searches along the River Dyfi on Wednesday. Holyhead coastguards said they would also assist.
Supt John appealed for the search to be left to trained speclialists, and said volunteers were no longer needed.
He thanked members ofthe public for their help, but said conditions were "very challenging" and he did not want officers distracted by concerns for the safety of those who wanted to help out.
He added: "We're very conscious of the safety of the people who have volunteered to come along.
"It is rural environment. It is very challenging conditions out there.
"The River Dyfi is in flood. We really do need to manage the risk of everybody out there."
Volunteers from across the country have joined in the search, and some people arrived at Machynlleth leisure centre before 07:00 BST on Wednesday, only to be turned away.
On Tuesday, April's family said they were "shattered" by her disappearance.
On Tuesday, April's family said they were "shattered" by her disappearance.
A statement, describing April as a "beautiful little girl, said: "Please, please if you have our little girl, let her come home to us."
A statement, describing April as a "beautiful little girl, said: "Please, please if you have our little girl, let her come home to us."
North Wales Police officers assisted in the search overnight, and the south Wales force sent a team of eight search specialists.
Coastguard teams from Aberystwyth, Borth, Aberdyfi and Harlech as well as RNLI inshore lifeboat teams, also from Borth and Aberdyfi, have also assisted.
A spokesman for Milford Haven Coastguard said they expect to continue their searches along the River Dyfi on Wednesday. Holyhead coastguards said they would also be assisting.
The 46-year-old arrested man is in custody at Aberystwyth Police Station.
The 46-year-old arrested man is in custody at Aberystwyth Police Station.
He was arrested at about 16:00 BST on the A487 main road north out of Machynlleth, which remains closed in both directions as far as Cross Foxes, near Dolgellau, 12 miles away.
He was arrested at about 16:00 BST on the A487 main road north out of Machynlleth, which remains closed in both directions as far as Cross Foxes, near Dolgellau, 12 miles away.
'Tremendous response'
'Tremendous response'
Officers said the man they were holding lived locally and had been sought by police.
Officers said the man they were holding lived locally and had been sought by police.
Det Supt Reg Bevan described him as a "significant individual", and said a vehicle police had recovered - a Land Rover Discovery - belonged to him, and was "similar to the description given by the children."
Det Supt Reg Bevan described him as a "significant individual", and said a vehicle police had recovered - a Land Rover Discovery - belonged to him, and was "similar to the description given by the children."
On the continuing search for April, Det Supt Bevan said on Tuesday: "It's still at the stage where she remains missing.
"We are pursuing every line of inquiry that may result in finding April. At this stage we've found nothing."
Supt Ian John said the officers involved in the search overnight were from different forces but were trained in carrying out systematic searches.
He said: "It is quite unusual for us to operate throughout the night like this, but obviously we're looking for a five-year-old girl so any opportunity we can get to find her and bring her home is what were trying to do."
He confirmed that the man in custody possessed a left-hand drive Land Rover.
But he said it would be wrong to assume it was the vehicle they been looking for.
He said: "Certainly, we were looking for a vehicle matching that description. The vehicle is of extreme interest to us, as is the gentleman in custody."
April disappeared close to her home on the Bryn-y-Gog estate in Machynlleth. She was last seen by a friend getting into the driver's side of a light-coloured van at 19:00 BST on Monday. Police said she had left her home to play with friends earlier that evening. She was wearing a purple knee-length coat with her white school polo shirt and black trousers.
April disappeared close to her home on the Bryn-y-Gog estate in Machynlleth. She was last seen by a friend getting into the driver's side of a light-coloured van at 19:00 BST on Monday. Police said she had left her home to play with friends earlier that evening. She was wearing a purple knee-length coat with her white school polo shirt and black trousers.
Town in shock
Town in shock
The quiet Powys market town of Machynlleth has been left stunned by the abduction of five-year-old April. Aerial images of the town, which has a population of about 2,000, show a small rural community surrounded by woodland and open countryside.
The quiet Powys market town of Machynlleth has been left stunned by the abduction of five-year-old April. Aerial images of the town, which has a population of about 2,000, show a small rural community surrounded by woodland and open countryside.
The search
The search
A police search was launched on Monday after April failed to return home. Hundreds of people from the Machynlleth community and beyond have since joined the hunt for the five year old. Search volunteer Anwen Morris said locals had used quad bikes and off-road vehicles to search an area with a 30-mile radius.
A police search was launched on Monday after April failed to return home. Hundreds of people from the Machynlleth community and beyond have since joined the hunt for the five year old. Search volunteer Anwen Morris said locals had used quad bikes and off-road vehicles to search an area with a 30-mile radius.
Volunteers and members of the public who have helped look for April were urged to "have some rest" on Tuesday night as emergency services continued their search.
Supt John confirmed on Tuesday that that the man in custody possessed a left-hand drive Land Rover.
Some began arriving by 07:00 BST on Wednesday but were turned away until police and emergency teams had co-odinated their plans.
However, he said it would be wrong to assume it was the vehicle they had been looking for.
Police have praised the "tremendous response" from the community after hundreds of people joined searches on Tuesday.
He said: "Certainly, we were looking for a vehicle matching that description. The vehicle is of extreme interest to us, as is the gentleman in custody."
Many people have joined the search from outside the area, including volunteers travelling from as far afield as Manchester and south Wales.
April's godmother Mair Raftree, 41, from Aberystwyth, who has helped with the efforts to find her, said: "She's a quiet girl, and an important member of her family.
April's godmother Mair Raftree, 41, from Aberystwyth, who has helped with the efforts to find her, said: "She's a quiet girl, and an important member of her family.
She would never go with anybody and ask for a lift. We just want her back safely."
She would never go with anybody and ask for a lift. We just want her back safely."
Police are due to give more details at a news conference at 07:30 BST.
A further news conference is expected on Wednesday afternoon.
Dyfed-Powys Police have asked anyone with information to contact a dedicated hotline on 0300 2000 333.
Dyfed-Powys Police have asked anyone with information to contact a dedicated hotline on 0300 2000 333.
