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| Version 17 | Version 18 |
|---|---|
| Missing girl Shannon found alive | Missing girl Shannon found alive |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Missing nine-year-old Shannon Matthews has been found alive, more than three weeks after going missing. | Missing nine-year-old Shannon Matthews has been found alive, more than three weeks after going missing. |
| Police found her hidden in the base of a divan bed in a house in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, a mile from her home. | Police found her hidden in the base of a divan bed in a house in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, a mile from her home. |
| Her stepfather's uncle, 39, said locally to use two names - Paul Drake and Mick Donovan - has been arrested on suspicion of abduction. | |
| Shannon is under an emergency protection order and in police care while what happened is established. | Shannon is under an emergency protection order and in police care while what happened is established. |
| Neighbours in Batley Carr said police smashed their way into the house and emerged carrying Shannon, who was last seen leaving Westmoor Junior School in Dewsbury on 19 February. | Neighbours in Batley Carr said police smashed their way into the house and emerged carrying Shannon, who was last seen leaving Westmoor Junior School in Dewsbury on 19 February. |
| 'Over the moon' | 'Over the moon' |
| She was reunited briefly with her mother and medical checks were carried out on her. | She was reunited briefly with her mother and medical checks were carried out on her. |
| West Yorkshire Police said officers would now begin to interview her. | West Yorkshire Police said officers would now begin to interview her. |
| A spokesman said: "This may be a long process but throughout this enquiry our main focus has been and continues to be Shannon's welfare." | A spokesman said: "This may be a long process but throughout this enquiry our main focus has been and continues to be Shannon's welfare." |
| Neighbours said Shannon looked "quite calm" as she was taken from the house and officers confirmed that she was OK. | Neighbours said Shannon looked "quite calm" as she was taken from the house and officers confirmed that she was OK. |
| Shannon's father Leon Rose said he was "over the moon". | Shannon's father Leon Rose said he was "over the moon". |
| During a search of the house, officers located Shannon Matthews who was found concealed in the base of a divan bed West Yorkshire Police | During a search of the house, officers located Shannon Matthews who was found concealed in the base of a divan bed West Yorkshire Police |
| "Believe it or not, where she's been found, I'd actually been in that area a number of times and probably just walked straight past the house that she was in," he said. | "Believe it or not, where she's been found, I'd actually been in that area a number of times and probably just walked straight past the house that she was in," he said. |
| Earlier, a West Yorkshire Police statement said: "As part of ongoing investigations, detectives and specialist search officers attended a house at Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, Dewsbury, at 1230 GMT this afternoon. | Earlier, a West Yorkshire Police statement said: "As part of ongoing investigations, detectives and specialist search officers attended a house at Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, Dewsbury, at 1230 GMT this afternoon. |
| Map of where Shannon was found | Map of where Shannon was found |
| "During a search of the house, officers located Shannon Matthews who was found concealed in the base of a divan bed. | "During a search of the house, officers located Shannon Matthews who was found concealed in the base of a divan bed. |
| "A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of abduction at the address and is currently in custody at a West Yorkshire police station. | "A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of abduction at the address and is currently in custody at a West Yorkshire police station. |
| Dewsbury Moor residents celebrated Shannon's discovery | Dewsbury Moor residents celebrated Shannon's discovery |
| "Shannon is currently in the care of West Yorkshire Police. Investigations are ongoing." | "Shannon is currently in the care of West Yorkshire Police. Investigations are ongoing." |
| Neighbour Christopher Heaps witnessed Shannon being brought out of the house by police. | Neighbour Christopher Heaps witnessed Shannon being brought out of the house by police. |
| He said he heard police breaking the door down then saw officers carrying Shannon in their arms. | He said he heard police breaking the door down then saw officers carrying Shannon in their arms. |
| "She was very calm and didn't look upset," he said. | "She was very calm and didn't look upset," he said. |
| Children returning from school to houses in Shannon's road were crying and hugging each other after hearing she had been found. | Children returning from school to houses in Shannon's road were crying and hugging each other after hearing she had been found. |
| Mayor of Kirklees, Jean Calvert, said she was delighted Shannon had been found. | Mayor of Kirklees, Jean Calvert, said she was delighted Shannon had been found. |
| "It's an immense relief for the family, relatives and friends of Shannon and those who've supported the efforts to find her and have shown so much concern over what's been a very traumatic few weeks for them and the local community," she said. | "It's an immense relief for the family, relatives and friends of Shannon and those who've supported the efforts to find her and have shown so much concern over what's been a very traumatic few weeks for them and the local community," she said. |
| More than 200 officers and 60 detectives have been involved in the search, which police said amounted to 10% of West Yorkshire Police's operational strength. | More than 200 officers and 60 detectives have been involved in the search, which police said amounted to 10% of West Yorkshire Police's operational strength. |
| The force said the operation was its biggest since the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. | The force said the operation was its biggest since the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. |
| Officers have searched nearly 3,000 residential and commercial premises in the hunt for the schoolgirl. | Officers have searched nearly 3,000 residential and commercial premises in the hunt for the schoolgirl. |
| The police hunt for Shannon had always focused on the local community. | The police hunt for Shannon had always focused on the local community. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |