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Three-year-old boy goes missing from Edinburgh home overnight Three-year-old boy goes missing from Edinburgh home overnight
(about 2 hours later)
Police searching for a three-year-old boy missing from his home in Edinburgh say they are keeping an open mind about his disappearance. Police searching for a three-year-old boy missing from his home in Edinburgh say they are still treating the search as missing person case and do not suspect criminality at this point.
Mikaeel Kular was last seen going to bed at his home in Ferry Gait Crescent, in the Drylaw area of the city, at about 9pm on Wednesday.Mikaeel Kular was last seen going to bed at his home in Ferry Gait Crescent, in the Drylaw area of the city, at about 9pm on Wednesday.
Witnesses reported seeing a man being led away in handcuffs from an address in Waterfront Gait, within a mile of Mikaeel's home, at around 11.45am. But later police made clear that the arrest was unrelated to the boy's disappearance, as their search continued. Witnesses reported seeing a man being led away in handcuffs from an address in Waterfront Gait, within a mile of Mikaeel's home, at around 11.45am. But later police made clear that the arrest was unrelated to the boy's disappearance, as their search continued.Ë
Mikaeel's mother reported him missing on Thursday morning when she couldn't find him at the home he shares with a twin sister and three other siblings. His brown Clarks shoes and beige jacket were also missing.Mikaeel's mother reported him missing on Thursday morning when she couldn't find him at the home he shares with a twin sister and three other siblings. His brown Clarks shoes and beige jacket were also missing.
Police superintendent Liz McAinsh, who is leading the search, said no crime was suspected at this stage and police were unaware of any custody issues within the family. Police superintendent Liz McAinsh, who is leading the search, told reporters at a mid-afternoon press conference that no crime was suspected at this stage and police were unaware of any custody issues within the family. Asked if there had been sighted since his mother he was seen by his mother at 9pm on Wednesday, she said: "We haven't had any at all, and that obviously causes us concern."
She said they were trying to talk to contact the boy's father, who is understood to be of Pakistani origin. She said they had been in contact with the boy's father, who is understood to be of Pakistani origin.
"There are many lines of inquiry at the moment and one of them will be to talk to Mikaeel's father," she told a press briefing outside Edinburgh police headquarters.
"There is no evidence to suggest criminality at the moment, but clearly we are keeping an open mind … The focus is on speaking to members of the family and searching the locality."There is no evidence to suggest criminality at the moment, but clearly we are keeping an open mind … The focus is on speaking to members of the family and searching the locality.
"As you can imagine Mikaeel's mother is distraught and she just wants our help and the public's help in finding her little boy. He attends the local nursery. They say Mikaeel is a friendly, playful wee boy, and they are obviously concerned for his safety and they will do everything they can to help us.""As you can imagine Mikaeel's mother is distraught and she just wants our help and the public's help in finding her little boy. He attends the local nursery. They say Mikaeel is a friendly, playful wee boy, and they are obviously concerned for his safety and they will do everything they can to help us."
Appealing to the public, McAinsh said: "We are asking everybody who lives in that area … to keep their eyes open for this wee boy. He is a British boy, who is of Asian appearance. He is about 3ft tall. We believe that he is possible wearing a beige jacket, blue jogging trousers and brown Clarks shoes."Appealing to the public, McAinsh said: "We are asking everybody who lives in that area … to keep their eyes open for this wee boy. He is a British boy, who is of Asian appearance. He is about 3ft tall. We believe that he is possible wearing a beige jacket, blue jogging trousers and brown Clarks shoes."
Police said they had a large presence in the area and the air support unit was involved in the search. Police said they had a large presence in the area and the air support unit was involved in the search. McAinsh said they were focusing their search on Drylaw area of Edinburgh – Muirhouse, Pennywell and Silverknowes.
Asked whether she thought Mikaeel may have left of his own accord, McAinsh told reporters: "We know that his jacket and shoes are not within the property so we are following up all lines of inquiry in that regard. We don't know if he may have left of his own volition, but obviously that's one line of inquiry we are following up."Asked whether she thought Mikaeel may have left of his own accord, McAinsh told reporters: "We know that his jacket and shoes are not within the property so we are following up all lines of inquiry in that regard. We don't know if he may have left of his own volition, but obviously that's one line of inquiry we are following up."
McAinsh added: "He has a wee three-year-old twin sister, so his wee twin is obviously going to be very concerned about where he is.McAinsh added: "He has a wee three-year-old twin sister, so his wee twin is obviously going to be very concerned about where he is.
"It must be awful. As a mother myself I just can't imagine how I would feel if my wee boy went missing."It must be awful. As a mother myself I just can't imagine how I would feel if my wee boy went missing.
"Clearly, as everybody out there will be able to relate to, his mother is distraught and she's trying to give us all the information she can to help us in our inquiry. We are providing her with all the support that we can through that experience and just trying as best we can with all the resources we have at our disposal to find him safe and well.""Clearly, as everybody out there will be able to relate to, his mother is distraught and she's trying to give us all the information she can to help us in our inquiry. We are providing her with all the support that we can through that experience and just trying as best we can with all the resources we have at our disposal to find him safe and well."
Neighbour Nicola Garrick described Mikaeel as "happy wee boy". She told Sky News: "He's always got a smile on his face."Neighbour Nicola Garrick described Mikaeel as "happy wee boy". She told Sky News: "He's always got a smile on his face."
She said the children rarely left the house: "They don't get out very often."She said the children rarely left the house: "They don't get out very often."
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