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Mikaeel Kular: 'Criminal act' a possibility in case | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Police are investigating the possibility that three-year-old Mikaeel Kular has gone missing following "a criminal act", a senior officer confirmed. | |
But Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said it was also possible the boy left his home of his own accord. | |
Police Scotland said earlier there was a "potential sighting" of Mikaeel on Thursday morning. | |
Members of the public saw a young boy alone at about 08:30. | |
The possible sighting was in West Pilton Gardens, close to Mikaeel's Edinburgh home. | |
ACC Graham told reporters: "It is normal in inquiries such as this to take a twin track approach aimed at finding the missing person and at the same time investigating and preparing for the possibility of a crime being committed. | |
"Major Investigation Team detectives are proactively trying to establish the full circumstances around Mikaeel's disappearance, including confirmation or otherwise that he left of his own accord or if a crime has been committed or not." | |
Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search for the missing boy. | Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search for the missing boy. |
Mikaeel has not been seen since being put to bed at his home in Ferry Gait Crescent on Wednesday night. | Mikaeel has not been seen since being put to bed at his home in Ferry Gait Crescent on Wednesday night. |
His mother, named locally as Rosdeep Kular, 33, put him to bed at about 21:00. | His mother, named locally as Rosdeep Kular, 33, put him to bed at about 21:00. |
Supt Liz McAinsh of Police Scotland has been speaking about the possible sighting. | Supt Liz McAinsh of Police Scotland has been speaking about the possible sighting. |
She said CCTV footage had confirmed the time of the sighting, but could not confirm the identity of the child. | She said CCTV footage had confirmed the time of the sighting, but could not confirm the identity of the child. |
Supt McAinsh said: "Since Mikaeel was reported missing, we have been contacted by a number of people with information which we have been working to assess and respond to. | Supt McAinsh said: "Since Mikaeel was reported missing, we have been contacted by a number of people with information which we have been working to assess and respond to. |
"Members of the public have come forward to report seeing a boy walking in the vicinity of West Pilton Gardens at 8:30am yesterday. | "Members of the public have come forward to report seeing a boy walking in the vicinity of West Pilton Gardens at 8:30am yesterday. |
"The witnesses were in a vehicle driving down West Pilton Gardens at the time they saw the boy. They described seeing a small boy on the right hand side pavement running towards the junction with West Pilton Park. | "The witnesses were in a vehicle driving down West Pilton Gardens at the time they saw the boy. They described seeing a small boy on the right hand side pavement running towards the junction with West Pilton Park. |
"They noticed him because he was small in build and alone at the time. | "They noticed him because he was small in build and alone at the time. |
"They said he matched the description given of Mikaeel although they also reported the child they saw was wearing a cap or hat." | "They said he matched the description given of Mikaeel although they also reported the child they saw was wearing a cap or hat." |
Supt McAinsh said it was her understanding that Mikaeel did not like wearing a hat, and no cap or hat is thought to be missing from his home. | Supt McAinsh said it was her understanding that Mikaeel did not like wearing a hat, and no cap or hat is thought to be missing from his home. |
She added: "The area where Mikaeel lives is densely populated. At 8.30am the area would have been busy with people going about their business - dropping kids at school or going to their work. | |
"I would ask anyone with information who saw this child to come forward so we can either focus our attention elsewhere or confirm if it was indeed Mikaeel." | |
A police helicopter, sniffer dogs, coastguard and lifeboat teams have been involved in the ongoing search. | A police helicopter, sniffer dogs, coastguard and lifeboat teams have been involved in the ongoing search. |
Officers said they were now deeply concerned for Mikaeel. | Officers said they were now deeply concerned for Mikaeel. |
Responding to a police plea for help, hundreds of people turned up at the North Neighbourhood Centre in West Pilton Gardens on Friday morning to assist with efforts to find the boy. | Responding to a police plea for help, hundreds of people turned up at the North Neighbourhood Centre in West Pilton Gardens on Friday morning to assist with efforts to find the boy. |
They were briefed on where and how they should search, so that all efforts were co-ordinated and no area missed. | They were briefed on where and how they should search, so that all efforts were co-ordinated and no area missed. |
The charity Missing People will be showing the three-year-old's face on big screens in public places such as railway stations. | The charity Missing People will be showing the three-year-old's face on big screens in public places such as railway stations. |
Police urged anyone with information to telephone the 0300 200 0200 number and asked local residents to check their gardens, sheds, parks and lock-ups. | Police urged anyone with information to telephone the 0300 200 0200 number and asked local residents to check their gardens, sheds, parks and lock-ups. |
The temperature dropped to about 3C in Edinburgh on Thursday night. | The temperature dropped to about 3C in Edinburgh on Thursday night. |
Police Scotland said that more than 150 people had already called the hotline. | Police Scotland said that more than 150 people had already called the hotline. |
Specialist teams are on standby and ready to act on any significant information provided, they added. | Specialist teams are on standby and ready to act on any significant information provided, they added. |
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said crews from nearby stations were assisting in the searches. Volunteers from the British Red Cross were also involved. | The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said crews from nearby stations were assisting in the searches. Volunteers from the British Red Cross were also involved. |
A Facebook page called Missing Mikaeel Kular has had more than 10,000 likes since its creation on Thursday. | A Facebook page called Missing Mikaeel Kular has had more than 10,000 likes since its creation on Thursday. |
Among the members of the public who turned up to search was Kimberly MacFadyen, 34, from Davidson's Mains, who has a five-year-old son. | Among the members of the public who turned up to search was Kimberly MacFadyen, 34, from Davidson's Mains, who has a five-year-old son. |
She said: "I would be absolutely devastated if it was my wee boy and I would want every person in Edinburgh to stop what they were doing and come to look for him." | She said: "I would be absolutely devastated if it was my wee boy and I would want every person in Edinburgh to stop what they were doing and come to look for him." |
Overnight, police issued a photograph showing the boy in the coat he was believed to be wearing when he disappeared - a beige hooded jacket with grey fur-lined hood. | Overnight, police issued a photograph showing the boy in the coat he was believed to be wearing when he disappeared - a beige hooded jacket with grey fur-lined hood. |
He may also have been wearing black gloves with multi-coloured fingers, dark navy blue jogging bottoms, a grey pyjama top featuring an embroidered turquoise dinosaur on the chest and brown Clark shoes with two Velcro straps. | He may also have been wearing black gloves with multi-coloured fingers, dark navy blue jogging bottoms, a grey pyjama top featuring an embroidered turquoise dinosaur on the chest and brown Clark shoes with two Velcro straps. |
He is 3ft tall and has a faded scar on the bridge of his nose and a sore on the left side of his mouth. | He is 3ft tall and has a faded scar on the bridge of his nose and a sore on the left side of his mouth. |
Mikaeel is a nursery pupil at the Flora Stevenson Primary School. | Mikaeel is a nursery pupil at the Flora Stevenson Primary School. |
Parents of other children at the school have been sent a letter reassuring them about safety and informing them that staff are supporting police with their inquiries. | Parents of other children at the school have been sent a letter reassuring them about safety and informing them that staff are supporting police with their inquiries. |
It said: "We are keeping in touch with Mikaeel's family and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time." | It said: "We are keeping in touch with Mikaeel's family and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time." |
Mikaeel, who is British with Asian parents, was at home with his mother and four siblings, including his twin sister, when he was last seen. | Mikaeel, who is British with Asian parents, was at home with his mother and four siblings, including his twin sister, when he was last seen. |