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| Corrie McKeague: police play down fears missing serviceman was abducted | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police searching for a missing RAF serviceman have played down his mother’s fears that he may have been abducted. | Police searching for a missing RAF serviceman have played down his mother’s fears that he may have been abducted. |
| Corrie McKeague, 23, was last seen in the early hours of 24 September when CCTV footage showed him with a takeaway meal meandering through the streets of Bury St Edmunds, 11 miles from his base at RAF Honington. | Corrie McKeague, 23, was last seen in the early hours of 24 September when CCTV footage showed him with a takeaway meal meandering through the streets of Bury St Edmunds, 11 miles from his base at RAF Honington. |
| His mother, Nicola Urquhart, said she was worried that he might have been kidnapped, and said this had been mentioned as a possibility by the police. | His mother, Nicola Urquhart, said she was worried that he might have been kidnapped, and said this had been mentioned as a possibility by the police. |
| She has also pleaded for anyone who may have seen him to come forward. She said: “My son has disappeared, so if anyone knows anything, get in touch with Suffolk police. We would like him to come home soon so please get in touch.” | She has also pleaded for anyone who may have seen him to come forward. She said: “My son has disappeared, so if anyone knows anything, get in touch with Suffolk police. We would like him to come home soon so please get in touch.” |
| She said her son would “never, never” be out of contact with his family for so long. He had spoken to his brother four times the day before he went missing. “This is not Corrie, he would not do this out of choice,” she added. | She said her son would “never, never” be out of contact with his family for so long. He had spoken to his brother four times the day before he went missing. “This is not Corrie, he would not do this out of choice,” she added. |
| Her appeal comes after Urquhart told the Sunday Times: “It’s looking more and more suspicious as time goes on that they’re not actually finding him. It [kidnapping] is something that they’re thinking of.” | Her appeal comes after Urquhart told the Sunday Times: “It’s looking more and more suspicious as time goes on that they’re not actually finding him. It [kidnapping] is something that they’re thinking of.” |
| The paper cited the attempted kidnap in July of a serviceman jogging near his base at RAF Marham, 30 miles north of Bury St Edmunds. But a spokesman for Suffolk police said the two incidents were different, and the possibility that McKeague had been kidnapped “has never been a main line of inquiry”. | The paper cited the attempted kidnap in July of a serviceman jogging near his base at RAF Marham, 30 miles north of Bury St Edmunds. But a spokesman for Suffolk police said the two incidents were different, and the possibility that McKeague had been kidnapped “has never been a main line of inquiry”. |
| He said the force was concerned about McKeague’s welfare, but there was no evidence of foul play. “The most likely scenario is that he has been for a night out, he’s had a bit to drink and he’s attempted to walk back [to the base]. That is the working theory – obviously we keep an open mind to every possibility.” | He said the force was concerned about McKeague’s welfare, but there was no evidence of foul play. “The most likely scenario is that he has been for a night out, he’s had a bit to drink and he’s attempted to walk back [to the base]. That is the working theory – obviously we keep an open mind to every possibility.” |
| The spokesman added: “The incident in RAF Marham where [the serviceman] was out jogging in the vicinity of the base was a totally different circumstance.” | The spokesman added: “The incident in RAF Marham where [the serviceman] was out jogging in the vicinity of the base was a totally different circumstance.” |
| On Sunday police said they had widened the search area after carrying out extensive checks along the A134 between Bury St Edmunds and the Honington base. Search and rescue teams and police helicopters have been combing the area. | On Sunday police said they had widened the search area after carrying out extensive checks along the A134 between Bury St Edmunds and the Honington base. Search and rescue teams and police helicopters have been combing the area. |
| GPS data from McKeague’s mobile phone suggests it moved to the Barton Mills area, 22 miles to the north-west of Bury St Edmunds and near two other airbases, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. | GPS data from McKeague’s mobile phone suggests it moved to the Barton Mills area, 22 miles to the north-west of Bury St Edmunds and near two other airbases, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. |
| Police have not recovered the phone, but they believe it may have been lost or discarded as the timings of the movements match a bin lorry run from Bury to Barton Mills. A bin lorry is being searched. | Police have not recovered the phone, but they believe it may have been lost or discarded as the timings of the movements match a bin lorry run from Bury to Barton Mills. A bin lorry is being searched. |
| Police do not believe McKeague himself was picked up by the bin lorry, as the weight of the load was recorded as under 15kg (2st 5lbs). | Police do not believe McKeague himself was picked up by the bin lorry, as the weight of the load was recorded as under 15kg (2st 5lbs). |
| Police have been working with staff at RAF Honington since McKeague was first reported missing. | Police have been working with staff at RAF Honington since McKeague was first reported missing. |
| A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that an RAF serviceman from RAF Honington is currently missing; our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time. | A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that an RAF serviceman from RAF Honington is currently missing; our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time. |
| “The civilian police have primacy in this matter and we understand that the investigation is ongoing. It would not be appropriate for the MoD to comment or speculate on the case at this time.” | “The civilian police have primacy in this matter and we understand that the investigation is ongoing. It would not be appropriate for the MoD to comment or speculate on the case at this time.” |
| Police have released photographs of the type of clothing McKeague is believed to have been wearing when he disappeared. They show a pink Ralph Lauren shirt and brown suede Timberland boots. | Police have released photographs of the type of clothing McKeague is believed to have been wearing when he disappeared. They show a pink Ralph Lauren shirt and brown suede Timberland boots. |
| McKeague is described as white, 1.78 metres (5ft 10ins), of medium build, with short light brown hair. | McKeague is described as white, 1.78 metres (5ft 10ins), of medium build, with short light brown hair. |
| Ch Insp Steve Denham said: “This behaviour is totally out of character for Corrie and we are very concerned for his welfare. We are still examining CCTV in Bury St Edmunds town centre and urging any friends or members of the public who may have seen or spoken to Corrie over the course of the evening of Friday 23 September and the early hours of Saturday 24 September in Bury St Edmunds to come forward. | Ch Insp Steve Denham said: “This behaviour is totally out of character for Corrie and we are very concerned for his welfare. We are still examining CCTV in Bury St Edmunds town centre and urging any friends or members of the public who may have seen or spoken to Corrie over the course of the evening of Friday 23 September and the early hours of Saturday 24 September in Bury St Edmunds to come forward. |
| “We are also appealing for people or drivers in the local area or further afield who may have seen him after our last confirmed sighting of him on Brentgovel Street at 3.20am to contact us.” | “We are also appealing for people or drivers in the local area or further afield who may have seen him after our last confirmed sighting of him on Brentgovel Street at 3.20am to contact us.” |
| Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. | Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. |