April Jones abduction: Child got into van willingly say police
April Jones abduction: Child got into van willingly say police
(35 minutes later)
Police investigating the abduction of a five-year-old girl from her street in mid Wales, have given more details of the van she was seen getting into.
Police investigating the abduction of a five-year-old girl from her street in mid Wales, have given more details of the van she was seen getting into.
April Jones was with friends near her Machynlleth home when she got willingly into a van at 19:00 BST on Monday.
April Jones was with friends near her Machynlleth home when she got willingly into a van at 19:00 BST on Monday.
Hundreds of people have joined the search for April who was wearing a purple coat with a fur hood, white polo top and black trousers.
Hundreds of people have joined the search for April who was wearing a purple coat with a fur hood, white polo top and black trousers.
A hotline number has been set up - 0300 2000 333.
A hotline number has been set up - 0300 2000 333.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Det Supt Reg Bevan said they had gleaned more information from children who had been playing with April shortly before she went missing.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Det Supt Reg Bevan said they had gleaned more information from children who had been playing with April shortly before she went missing.
"Speaking with them is a delicate and time consuming process," he said.
"Speaking with them is a delicate and time consuming process," he said.
Det Supt Bevan said the children had told police the vehicle involved looked like a van.
Det Supt Bevan said the children had told police the vehicle involved looked like a van.
"They describe it as small at the front and large at the back, so it could be interpreted that this could be something similar to a Ford Connect type van or a Land Rover.
"They describe it as small at the front and large at the back, so it could be interpreted that this could be something similar to a Ford Connect type van or a Land Rover.
"Furthermore April has been described as getting into the driver's side of the vehicle. This may be because she got in with the driver or that it is left hand drive vehicle.
"Furthermore April has been described as getting into the driver's side of the vehicle. This may be because she got in with the driver or that it is left hand drive vehicle.
"We still believe that the van is grey or light coloured, but again these things can be affected by failing light and street lamps.
"We still believe that the van is grey or light coloured, but again these things can be affected by failing light and street lamps.
"The indications are that she got into the vehicle willingly... There's nothing to suggest at this stage there was a struggle."
"The indications are that she got into the vehicle willingly... There's nothing to suggest at this stage there was a struggle."
Det Supt Bevan added that police were concentrating efforts in the immediate vicinity following specialist advice.
Det Supt Bevan added that police were concentrating efforts in the immediate vicinity following specialist advice.
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.
He said police had a significant number of pieces of information.
He said police had a significant number of pieces of information.
This included an initial description of the driver but detectives were not comfortable releasing more details at this stage.
This included an initial description of the driver but detectives were not comfortable releasing more details at this stage.
When asked about April's family, Det Supt Bevan said "as you would imagine, it must be their worst nightmare so it must be a very difficult time for them".
When asked about April's family, Det Supt Bevan said "as you would imagine, it must be their worst nightmare so it must be a very difficult time for them".
At the town's leisure centre, hundreds of people involved in the hunt for April have just set off on another search for her.
At the town's leisure centre, hundreds of people involved in the hunt for April have just set off on another search for her.
Following a police briefing, the volunteers are being split into groups of up to 20, one going clockwise, the other anti-clockwise around the town.
Following a police briefing, the volunteers are being split into groups of up to 20, one going clockwise, the other anti-clockwise around the town.
One volunteer suggested the town's railway line might be closed later, when the search is extended.
One volunteer suggested the town's railway line might be closed later, when the search is extended.
The leisure centre is bustling with - police, council staff, network rail officials, transport police. Members of the public have brought dogs along.
The leisure centre is bustling with - police, council staff, network rail officials, transport police. Members of the public have brought dogs along.
More people are joining the search all the time.
More people are joining the search all the time.
Lynne Owen, 45, from nearby Llanerfyl, drove to Machynlleth on Tuesday morning.
Lynne Owen, 45, from nearby Llanerfyl, drove to Machynlleth on Tuesday morning.
"We're off out on another search now," he said. "We've been given a description of her and told not to touch anything if we find something."
"We're off out on another search now," he said. "We've been given a description of her and told not to touch anything if we find something."
Back on April's estate, the road is cordoned off and a police van and car are parked nearby, while a lone officer stands beyond the cordon in the rain.
Back on April's estate, the road is cordoned off and a police van and car are parked nearby, while a lone officer stands beyond the cordon in the rain.
Overhead the rumblings of a police helicopter and the Wales Air Ambulance can be heard.
Overhead the rumblings of a police helicopter and the Wales Air Ambulance can be heard.
A few miles out of town, people in fluorescent jackets are stopping drivers near a mini roundabout in what appears to be an attempt to find out more information.
A few miles out of town, people in fluorescent jackets are stopping drivers near a mini roundabout in what appears to be an attempt to find out more information.
'Not ruling anything out'
'Not ruling anything out'
He said the force were getting help from neighbouring Welsh forces, and some English in relation to the Child Rescue Alert system (CRA).
He said the force were getting help from neighbouring Welsh forces, and some English in relation to the Child Rescue Alert system (CRA).
The CRA brings together the forces of police, media and the public to help find abducted children by publishing details as soon as possible.
The CRA brings together the forces of police, media and the public to help find abducted children by publishing details as soon as possible.
The South Wales Police and Gwent Police helicopters are also helping in the search.
The South Wales Police and Gwent Police helicopters are also helping in the search.
April disappeared close to her home on the Bryn Y Gog estate in Machynlleth.
April disappeared close to her home on the Bryn Y Gog estate in Machynlleth.
Road blocks have been set up as officers and hundreds of local people continue conducting searches of the local area, woodland and isolated farmland.
Road blocks have been set up as officers and hundreds of local people continue conducting searches of the local area, woodland and isolated farmland.
Police helicopters, the fire service and police dog teams have been mobilised. Refuse collections in the area have been suspended on Tuesday as council workers re-deploy to help the search.
Police helicopters, the fire service and police dog teams have been mobilised. Refuse collections in the area have been suspended on Tuesday as council workers re-deploy to help the search.
Bus companies have also been ferrying groups of people around the large, rural area to widen the search.
Bus companies have also been ferrying groups of people around the large, rural area to widen the search.
Meanwhile, detectives are due to re-interview the children who had been playing with April on the Bryn-y-Gog estate last night.
Meanwhile, detectives are due to re-interview the children who had been playing with April on the Bryn-y-Gog estate last night.
Supt Ian John said: "At this moment in time we're still interviewing young witnesses and... we believe April got into the vehicle without any sort of struggle."
Supt Ian John said: "At this moment in time we're still interviewing young witnesses and... we believe April got into the vehicle without any sort of struggle."
Asked whether this suggested she may have known the driver, he replied: "We're keeping our minds' open at this moment in time. We're not ruling anything out, we're not ruling anything in."
Asked whether this suggested she may have known the driver, he replied: "We're keeping our minds' open at this moment in time. We're not ruling anything out, we're not ruling anything in."
Police have praised the "tremendous response" from the community.
Police have praised the "tremendous response" from the community.
Hundreds of people have been gathering at the local leisure centre to help with the search.
Hundreds of people have been gathering at the local leisure centre to help with the search.
Alun Hughes, a friend of April's family said: "We were out last night and at the moment we are waiting for the police to organise specialist searches of the town."
Alun Hughes, a friend of April's family said: "We were out last night and at the moment we are waiting for the police to organise specialist searches of the town."
Search volunteer Anwen Morris said locals had searched an area with a 30-mile radius using quad bikes and off-road vehicles.
Search volunteer Anwen Morris said locals had searched an area with a 30-mile radius using quad bikes and off-road vehicles.
Mayor of Machynlleth Gareth Jones said people had travelled from outside of the area to help.
Mayor of Machynlleth Gareth Jones said people had travelled from outside of the area to help.
"We live in hope.," he said. "I want to appeal to people out there who may have seen something, even if they thought it's not of very much importance, to come forward and tell police."
"We live in hope.," he said. "I want to appeal to people out there who may have seen something, even if they thought it's not of very much importance, to come forward and tell police."
Powys County Council said it was providing support for pupils and staff at April's school - Ysgol Gynradd Machynlleth.
Powys County Council said it was providing support for pupils and staff at April's school - Ysgol Gynradd Machynlleth.
Brian Vaughn, whose daughter goes to school with April, described her as a "lovely little girl". He said: "Everybody just wants her back, really.
Brian Vaughn, whose daughter goes to school with April, described her as a "lovely little girl". He said: "Everybody just wants her back, really.
"Whatever we've got to do, we'll do it. We're just hoping for the best, that she's closer rather than further away."
"Whatever we've got to do, we'll do it. We're just hoping for the best, that she's closer rather than further away."
Neighbour Rhydian Mason said: "It's completely heartbreaking. I'm trying to put myself in the shoes of April's parents and it's an awful feeling in the pit of the stomach.
Neighbour Rhydian Mason said: "It's completely heartbreaking. I'm trying to put myself in the shoes of April's parents and it's an awful feeling in the pit of the stomach.
Shadow Welsh Secretary, Owen Smith MP, told the Labour conference in Manchester that the thoughts and prayers of all delegates are with the missing girl and her family.
Shadow Welsh Secretary, Owen Smith MP, told the Labour conference in Manchester that the thoughts and prayers of all delegates are with the missing girl and her family.
"We all pray she's back in her community and with her family as soon as humanly possible," he added.
"We all pray she's back in her community and with her family as soon as humanly possible," he added.
At first minister's questions in the Welsh assembly, party leaders said their thoughts were with those searching for the five-year-old.
At first minister's questions in the Welsh assembly, party leaders said their thoughts were with those searching for the five-year-old.
Meanwhile, Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies was in Machynlleth to offer his support.
He said: "I'm stunned by the way everybody in the town has come together, but I suppose I'm not really surprised because it's a small town and everybody feels the anxiety of what has happened. I have a mixture of concern and hope."
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.
