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Mikaeel Kular search: witnesses report seeing child matching boy's description Mikaeel Kular search: witnesses report seeing child matching boy's description
(35 minutes later)
The police have issued an urgent appeal in the search for the missing three-year-old Mikaeel Kular after witnesses reported seeing a youngster matching his description on Thursday morning.The police have issued an urgent appeal in the search for the missing three-year-old Mikaeel Kular after witnesses reported seeing a youngster matching his description on Thursday morning.
Supt Liz McAinsh said witnesses driving through Pilton, close to his home in north Edinburgh, reported seeing a young child running down the pavement at 8.30am on Wednesday, barely an hour after his mother found him missing.Supt Liz McAinsh said witnesses driving through Pilton, close to his home in north Edinburgh, reported seeing a young child running down the pavement at 8.30am on Wednesday, barely an hour after his mother found him missing.
The sighting has been confirmed by CCTV footage, but the images were not clear enough to prove it was Mikaeel. McAinsh urged other parents to come forward in case their children were out on the streets at the time, to rule out a mistaken identification.The sighting has been confirmed by CCTV footage, but the images were not clear enough to prove it was Mikaeel. McAinsh urged other parents to come forward in case their children were out on the streets at the time, to rule out a mistaken identification.
"Members of the public have come forward to report seeing a boy walking in the vicinity of West Pilton Gardens at 8.30am yesterday," McAinsh said."Members of the public have come forward to report seeing a boy walking in the vicinity of West Pilton Gardens at 8.30am yesterday," McAinsh said.
"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 said he matched the description given of Mikaeel although they also reported the child they saw was wearing a cap or hat."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.
"We would ask that anyone who also saw this child contact us as a matter of urgency. We need to confirm if this was Mikaeel or if it was another child. If it is your child who was out at this time and in this location, we want to hear from you so we can eliminate this line of inquiry as swiftly as possible.""We would ask that anyone who also saw this child contact us as a matter of urgency. We need to confirm if this was Mikaeel or if it was another child. If it is your child who was out at this time and in this location, we want to hear from you so we can eliminate this line of inquiry as swiftly as possible."
But McAinsh later said the fact that the sighted child was wearing a hat suggested it might not be Mikaeel. "He doesn't like wearing a hat or a cap, is my understanding, and to our knowledge he didn't have one, there's not one missing from the house," she said. "Now we're in a position where we think it's something that's relevant, very relevant, and we're coming to you with this appeal to try and help us."
Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search for the three-year-old. A 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 on Friday.Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search for the three-year-old. A 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 on Friday.
A ground, sea and air search of the area failed to find any sign of the child's whereabouts.A ground, sea and air search of the area failed to find any sign of the child's whereabouts.
McAinsh said: "Mikaeel's mother is getting a lot of support from 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. 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."McAinsh said: "Mikaeel's mother is getting a lot of support from 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. 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 night and was discovered 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 his mother, 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."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.
"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."
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