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Hundreds join search for missing Mikaeel Kular Hundreds join search for missing Mikaeel Kular
(35 minutes later)
Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search for three-year-old Mikaeel Kular, who is missing from his home in Edinburgh, as police said they were "deeply concerned" for his safety. Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search for Mikaeel Kular, who is missing from his home in Edinburgh, as police say they are deeply concerned for the three-year-old's safety.
The large crowd of volunteers, many dressed in thick winter coats, hats and gloves against the chilly weather, gathered outside a community centre in north Edinburgh as the search for Mikaeel entered its second day. The large crowd of volunteers, many dressed in thick winter coats, hats and gloves in the chilly weather, gathered outside a community centre in north Edinburgh as the search entered its second day.
A ground, sea and air search of the area has so far failed to find any sign of the child's whereabouts, more than 24 hours after he disappeared from his home in Drylaw while his family slept.A ground, sea and air search of the area has so far failed to find any sign of the child's whereabouts, more than 24 hours after he disappeared from his home in Drylaw while his family slept.
As police briefed the volunteers on how and where to search, Superintendent Liz McAinsh, of Police Scotland, said: "We are obviously deeply concerned that we have had no sightings of Mikaeel. All lines of inquiry in the investigation remain open, we are pursuing many lines of inquiry. We still have no evidence of any criminality at this point."As police briefed the volunteers on how and where to search, Superintendent Liz McAinsh, of Police Scotland, said: "We are obviously deeply concerned that we have had no sightings of Mikaeel. All lines of inquiry in the investigation remain open, we are pursuing many lines of inquiry. We still have no evidence of any criminality at this point."
She said the boy's mother, Rosdeep Kular, 33, a self-employed beautician and single parent to five children, was extremely distressed after his disappearance. She said the boy's mother, Rosdeep, 33, a self-employed beautician and single parent of five children, was extremely distressed.
"Mikaeel's mother is getting a lot of support from both the police, her family and her friends, but clearly she is very distraught, she just wants her little boy back home with his brothers and sisters," McAinsh said. "We are very concerned for her. We just want to be able to give her some news or let her know he is safe and well.""Mikaeel's mother is getting a lot of support from both the police, her family and her friends, but clearly she is very distraught, she just wants her little boy back home with his brothers and sisters," McAinsh said. "We are very concerned for her. We just want to be able to give her some news or let her know he is safe and well."
Fears for Mikaeel's health and safety have intensified because he may have had to endure two nights without any food in the outdoors, with temperatures dropping close to zero.Fears for Mikaeel's health and safety have intensified because he may have had to endure two nights without any food in the outdoors, with temperatures dropping close to zero.
It remains unclear exactly when he disappeared or how he left the block of flats, which has a locked main entrance. He was put to bed at 9pm on Wednesday night and was discovered missing by his mother at about 7.15am on Thursday. It remains unclear exactly when he disappeared or how he left the block of flats, which has a locked main entrance. He was put to bed at 9pm on Wednesday and found to be missing by his mother at about 7.15am on Thursday.
Mikaeel's father, who is understood to be estranged from his mother, and other family members have been questioned voluntarily by police. No one has yet been detained or charged. Mikaeel's father, who is understood to be estranged from Rosdeep, and other family members have been questioned voluntarily by police. No one has yet been detained or charged.
McAinsh stressed there was no evidence of wrongdoing and said she was unaware of any tension between the boy's parents. "No one is detained, no one is a suspect, we have no evidence of any criminality," she said.McAinsh stressed there was no evidence of wrongdoing and said she was unaware of any tension between the boy's parents. "No one is detained, no one is a suspect, we have no evidence of any criminality," she said.
"All lines of inquiry in this investigation remain open. I would ask anyone who is waking up this morning, if you searched outbuildings, gardens, garages, sheds yesterday, do it again today, because we have still not found Mikaeel. We still have no evidence of criminality at this point. "I would ask anyone who is waking up this morning, if you searched outbuildings, gardens, garages, sheds yesterday, do it again today, because we have still not found Mikaeel.
"All of his family have been very, very helpful to the police. They continue to help us with our inquiries. Obviously we are as keen to get as much information from them because we just never know who might hold that vital bit of information that might help us find him.""All of his family have been very, very helpful to the police. They continue to help us with our inquiries. Obviously we are as keen to get as much information from them because we just never know who might hold that vital bit of information that might help us find him."
Neighbours who volunteered for the second day of the search told reporters they wanted to help because they too were parents. Kenny Turner, 55, from nearby Granton, said: "I feel for the family. When you've got kids and grandkids of your own you know what they are going through. I hope he is found and he is safe and well."Neighbours who volunteered for the second day of the search told reporters they wanted to help because they too were parents. Kenny Turner, 55, from nearby Granton, said: "I feel for the family. When you've got kids and grandkids of your own you know what they are going through. I hope he is found and he is safe and well."
Nicola Hunter, 31, from Muirhouse, who has two sons aged 11 and five, said: "I am a mum and I just want to try and help. It's every mum's worst nightmare. It's just too close to home, to think that he was out there last night."Nicola Hunter, 31, from Muirhouse, who has two sons aged 11 and five, said: "I am a mum and I just want to try and help. It's every mum's worst nightmare. It's just too close to home, to think that he was out there last night."
Police activated a UK-wide child rescue alert on Thursday, a step usually reserved for kidnapping and abduction cases, and are scouring hundreds of hours of CCTV images from the area, which is made up of low-rise, new-build blocks of flats, shops, open ground and schools close to Edinburgh's shoreline on the Firth of Forth. Police activated a UK-wide child rescue alert on Thursday, a step usually reserved for kidnapping and abduction cases, and were scouring hundreds of hours of CCTV images from the area, which is made up of low-rise, new-build blocks of flats, shops, open ground and schools close to Edinburgh's shoreline on the Firth of Forth.
Police Scotland said more than 150 calls had been made to its helpline but no confirmed sightings had been reported.Police Scotland said more than 150 calls had been made to its helpline but no confirmed sightings had been reported.
Mikaeel usually sleeps in the same room as his twin sister but was alone on Wednesday night. His jacket and shoes are missing and police are looking into whether he might have left of his own accord. They say there is no evidence of any criminal behaviour. Mikaeel usually sleeps in the same room as his twin sister but was alone on Wednesday night. His jacket and shoes were missing and police were looking into whether he might have left of his own accord..
Mikaeel is 3ft (90cm) tall, slim, and possibly wearing a thigh-length beige hooded coat. He may also be wearing black gloves with multi-coloured fingers, dark navy blue jogging bottoms, a grey pyjama top with an embroidered turquoise dinosaur on the chest and brown Clarks shoes. He has a faded scar on the bridge of his nose and a sore on the left-hand side of his mouth. Mikaeel is 90cm (3ft) tall, slim, of Asian appearance and possibly wearing a thigh-length beige hooded coat. He may also be wearing black gloves with multi-coloured fingers, dark navy blue jogging bottoms, a grey pyjama top with an embroidered turquoise dinosaur on the chest and brown Clarks shoes. He has a faded scar on the bridge of his nose and a sore on the left side of his mouth.
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