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.
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.
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 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, and say they anticipate "intelligence".
Police are still questioning a 46-year-old man and anticipate intelligence from interviews will drive the search.
They said they have been "overwhelmed" by the response from volunteers but now urged the public to leave the search to trained teams.
The man police are questioning has been named locally as Mark Bridger.
He was found walking along a road to the north of Machynlleth by a police patrol.
Dyfed-Powys Police told a news conference on Wednesday 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.
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.
North Wales Police officers assisted Dyfed-Powys Police in the search 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.
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.
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.
Supt John thanked members of the 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 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: He said: "I need people to know it is a rural environment, very challenging conditions out there.
He added: "We're very conscious of the safety of the people who have volunteered to come along.
"The weather yesterday wasn't great and I don't think the forecast is very good for today.
"It is rural environment. It is very challenging conditions out there.
"The River Dyfi is in flood and we really do need to manage the risk of everybody there, not only the police officers, the mountain rescue team, but we are extremely concerned about large numbers of members of the public going into...very challenging conditions.
"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.
A statement, describing April as a "beautiful little girl, said: "Please, please if you have our little girl, let her come home to us."
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.
'Tremendous response'
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."
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.
"So what I am asking really is - notwithstanding the great support and the commitment that people want to show in helping us to find April - can we please leave this now to the trained and skilled people that we have?
"I don't want those officers to be distracted by the well-intentioned and enthusiastic support."
Mr John said experience suggested any breakthrough in the search for April would be at a local level, and the search is still centred on areas around the market town.
"It is likely that we are going to find somebody in the search parameter where she was last seen," he added.
Volunteers from across the country have joined in the search, and some people arrived at Machynlleth leisure centre before 07:00 BST on Wednesday, but were turned away.
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."
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.
Police now expect intelligence arising from interviews with the man in custody to drive the search operation.
'Tremendous response'
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."
Supt John confirmed on Tuesday that that the man in custody possessed a left-hand drive Land Rover.
Supt John confirmed on Tuesday that that the man in custody possessed a left-hand drive Land Rover.
However, he said it would be wrong to assume it was the vehicle they had been looking for.
However, he said it would be wrong to assume it was the vehicle they had 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."
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'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."
On Wednesday, Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "My heart goes out to the family of April Jones and obviously I hope there can be a successful outcome to the search for her."
Describing April, sweet shop owner Alyson Jones said: "She's a typical little five-year-old.
"She's bright-eyed and polite and loves coming into the shop with her family to choose her sweets.
"It's just devastating that we can't find her."
She added: "I feel like running to the shop and tearing it apart to see if there's anything I've missed."
A further news conference is expected on Wednesday afternoon.
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.
