This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/hunt-for-mikaeel-kular-police-searching-for-missing-threeyearold-find-body-of-young-boy-in-fife-9068650.html
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Hunt for Mikaeel Kular: Child's body removed from woodland as mother continues to be detained by police | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The mother of missing boy Mikaeel Kular has been detained by police after a child’s body was found in Fife. | The mother of missing boy Mikaeel Kular has been detained by police after a child’s body was found in Fife. |
The woman, named locally as Rosdeep Kular, 33, was questioned overnight. | |
Today a body was removed from a wooded area behind a property in Dunvegan Avenue, where neighbours said Rosdeep Kular, 33, used to stay. Residents said it is occupied by her sister, Mikaeel's aunt. | |
The house in Kirkcaldy, Fife, was sealed off by police during the night and forensics officers were seen at the property. | |
A small wooded area close to the bungalow was also cordoned off and was being guarded by officers, according to the BBC. | |
Police Scotland said a person had been detained in connection with the three-year-old’s disappearance but did not confirm their identity. | |
Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said the body of a young child was recovered in Fife just before midnight. | |
“We strongly believe this to be the body of Mikaeel,” he added. | |
“A person has been detained in connection with the recovery of the body and members of Mikaeel’s family have been informed of the recovery. | |
brightcove.createExperiences(); | brightcove.createExperiences(); |
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with them at this time.” | “Our thoughts and sympathies are with them at this time.” |
Floral tributes, soft toys and candles have been placed at a small park in the Drylaw area, round the corner from the flat on Ferry Gait Crescent. | |
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said the discovery of a body was "the news we have all been dreading". | |
"The hearts of everyone across Scotland and beyond have been touched by the events of recent days. | |
"We should at this difficult time remember the work of the officers of Police Scotland who have responded to this difficult task and investigation and shown such professionalism and dedication." | |
The grim discovery comes after days of desperate searches by hundreds of volunteers from the local community and emergency services. | |
Mikaeel disappeared after he was put to bed by his mother at their home in Ferry Gait Crescent at 9pm on Wednesday. | |
Police confirmed yesterday that he had not attended Flora Stevenson Nursery since Christmas and said a “criminal act” was possible. | |
His mother did not make a public appeal after he went missing but police previously described her as “very distraught”. | |
Her mother, Harjinder Kular, yesterday paid tribute to the hundreds of volunteers who had joined the search. | |
She told the Edinburgh Evening News: “This has been such a difficult time and my head is all over the place. | |
“I just want to be there for my daughter but I am appreciative for all that has been done to help us. | |
“I’m very sad. We just want Mikaeel home.” | “I’m very sad. We just want Mikaeel home.” |
Police stand outside a bungalow in Dunvegan Avenue in Kirkcaldy where a young boy's body believed to be Mikaeel Kular was found on Friday night | Police stand outside a bungalow in Dunvegan Avenue in Kirkcaldy where a young boy's body believed to be Mikaeel Kular was found on Friday night |
Chief Constable Graham thanked everyone who helped the investigation and acknowledged the “overwhelming public response” to appeals for information. | |
He added: “The investigation into the disappearance of Mikaeel has been wide ranging and fast moving.” | |
The discovery of the body came less than a day after police announced a possible sighting of the boy. | |
Mikaeel in the jacket police believe he was wearing when he disappeared | Mikaeel in the jacket police believe he was wearing when he disappeared |
A child matching his description had been seen in Edinburgh on Thursday morning, although the identity of the boy could not be confirmed when CCTV footage was inspected. | |