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| Hunt for Mikaeel Kular: Community devastated by police discovery of body in Kirkcaldy as mother detained by police | Hunt for Mikaeel Kular: Community devastated by police discovery of body in Kirkcaldy as mother detained by police |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of people took to the streets of Edinburgh to search for three-year-old Mikaeel Kular, in a mood of optimism that it was only a matter of time before he was found. But tonight police were trying to work out how he ended up dead in woods nearly 30 miles away. | Hundreds of people took to the streets of Edinburgh to search for three-year-old Mikaeel Kular, in a mood of optimism that it was only a matter of time before he was found. But tonight police were trying to work out how he ended up dead in woods nearly 30 miles away. |
| Rosdeep Kular, the child’s mother, was detained by police after a body – believed by police to be Mikaeel’s – was found in Kirkcaldy, Fife, near a house thought to be that of her sister. | Rosdeep Kular, the child’s mother, was detained by police after a body – believed by police to be Mikaeel’s – was found in Kirkcaldy, Fife, near a house thought to be that of her sister. |
| The developments on Saturday were described by Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, as “the news we have all been dreading”. | The developments on Saturday were described by Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, as “the news we have all been dreading”. |
| As detectives attempted to piece together the events that led up to, and followed, Mikaeel’s disappearance, community leaders in Edinburgh urged people not to jump to conclusions about what had happened. | As detectives attempted to piece together the events that led up to, and followed, Mikaeel’s disappearance, community leaders in Edinburgh urged people not to jump to conclusions about what had happened. |
| However, social media were awash with unsubstantiated speculation about the death; police said they were aware of racist comments on Twitter. At least one person, from the Greater Manchester area, was being investigated over an allegedly offensive tweet. | However, social media were awash with unsubstantiated speculation about the death; police said they were aware of racist comments on Twitter. At least one person, from the Greater Manchester area, was being investigated over an allegedly offensive tweet. |
| Ms Kular, a 33-year-old mother of five, had told detectives that she discovered her son was missing on Thursday morning after putting him to bed the previous night. His brown jacket, multi-coloured gloves and shoes were gone. | Ms Kular, a 33-year-old mother of five, had told detectives that she discovered her son was missing on Thursday morning after putting him to bed the previous night. His brown jacket, multi-coloured gloves and shoes were gone. |
| Initially police said Mikaeel might have left the flat by himself, but neighbours expressed doubts that a child of three would have been capable of opening the heavy main door to the apartment block. | Initially police said Mikaeel might have left the flat by himself, but neighbours expressed doubts that a child of three would have been capable of opening the heavy main door to the apartment block. |
| Three-year-old Mikaeel | |
| Just before midnight on Friday, officers discovered the body. Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham, who looked visibly shaken when announcing the news a short time later, said police “strongly believe this to be the body of Mikaeel”. | |
| “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,” he said. “Our thoughts and sympathies are with them at this time.” | “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,” he said. “Our thoughts and sympathies are with them at this time.” |
| Under Scots law, suspects can be detained for questioning by police for up to 24 hours. Officers must then decide whether to formally arrest and charge the person with an offence or release them. | Under Scots law, suspects can be detained for questioning by police for up to 24 hours. Officers must then decide whether to formally arrest and charge the person with an offence or release them. |
| The house in Kirkcaldy and nearby woods were cordoned off by police as forensic teams scoured the area today. At about 4pm, an ambulance reported to be carrying the boy’s body was seen leaving the area. | The house in Kirkcaldy and nearby woods were cordoned off by police as forensic teams scoured the area today. At about 4pm, an ambulance reported to be carrying the boy’s body was seen leaving the area. |
| Ms Kular, a beauty therapist, is said to have separated from a man she married in her early twenties and was living with a new partner. She previously wrote a light-hearted post about herself online, saying that she lived with “just me, myself and I ... oh yeah, with a brood of five monsters, six if you count the man indoors!” | Ms Kular, a beauty therapist, is said to have separated from a man she married in her early twenties and was living with a new partner. She previously wrote a light-hearted post about herself online, saying that she lived with “just me, myself and I ... oh yeah, with a brood of five monsters, six if you count the man indoors!” |
| A steady stream of mourners left flowers and cuddly toys near the Kular family home in Ferry Gait Crescent, in the Drylaw area of Edinburgh, today. One note read: “This is so sad and a great loss to our street in Ferry Gait Crescent.” | A steady stream of mourners left flowers and cuddly toys near the Kular family home in Ferry Gait Crescent, in the Drylaw area of Edinburgh, today. One note read: “This is so sad and a great loss to our street in Ferry Gait Crescent.” |
| For two days, hundreds of local people had turned out to help search for Mikaeel, spending hours scouring the local streets and nearby coastline. Frank Arthur, 72, who lives in the flat above Ms Kular, said that he was finding the news “difficult to come to terms with”. “Everybody has been rooting for that little kid. There’s an awful lot of people who gave up time to go out and look for him.” | For two days, hundreds of local people had turned out to help search for Mikaeel, spending hours scouring the local streets and nearby coastline. Frank Arthur, 72, who lives in the flat above Ms Kular, said that he was finding the news “difficult to come to terms with”. “Everybody has been rooting for that little kid. There’s an awful lot of people who gave up time to go out and look for him.” |
| Irvine Welsh, the author, who grew up in the area and had repeatedly taken to Twitter to encourage local people to help “bring the wee man hame”, also expressed his sorrow. “So sad about wee Mikaeel but couldn’t be more proud of where I come from & the amazing people there who tried everything to help out,” he tweeted. | Irvine Welsh, the author, who grew up in the area and had repeatedly taken to Twitter to encourage local people to help “bring the wee man hame”, also expressed his sorrow. “So sad about wee Mikaeel but couldn’t be more proud of where I come from & the amazing people there who tried everything to help out,” he tweeted. |
| Denise Fergus, the mother of James Bulger, the two-year-old murdered in Liverpool in 1993, tweeted her condolences, saying: “My heart is aching for that poor boy Mikaeel Kular brings it all back so sad.” | Denise Fergus, the mother of James Bulger, the two-year-old murdered in Liverpool in 1993, tweeted her condolences, saying: “My heart is aching for that poor boy Mikaeel Kular brings it all back so sad.” |
| The Scottish parliamentarian Colin Keir, who had helped look for Mikaeel, said the local community in Edinburgh was feeling “battered and bruised”. He added: “I know exactly how these people are feeling. It’s difficult not to get personally involved.” | The Scottish parliamentarian Colin Keir, who had helped look for Mikaeel, said the local community in Edinburgh was feeling “battered and bruised”. He added: “I know exactly how these people are feeling. It’s difficult not to get personally involved.” |
| But Mr Keir urged people not to let their emotions result in a rush to judgement. | But Mr Keir urged people not to let their emotions result in a rush to judgement. |
| “There’s a post mortem that has to happen. We need to find out how the young Mikaeel died and when he died, then we can start piecing things together,” he said. | “There’s a post mortem that has to happen. We need to find out how the young Mikaeel died and when he died, then we can start piecing things together,” he said. |
| Local councillor Cammy Day, who was due to speak at a memorial service for the young boy at a local church on Saturday night, said the community was “absolutely devastated”. | Local councillor Cammy Day, who was due to speak at a memorial service for the young boy at a local church on Saturday night, said the community was “absolutely devastated”. |
| He praised the “wonderful, strong community spirit” displayed during the search for the boy, and said he hoped it would not be damaged by “the odd few ridiculous comments” made on social media. | He praised the “wonderful, strong community spirit” displayed during the search for the boy, and said he hoped it would not be damaged by “the odd few ridiculous comments” made on social media. |
| “I’m hopeful there will be no repercussions locally. I know the police are doing something on that,” Mr Day said. “We should not be making any assumptions, we should be leaving the investigation to police.” | “I’m hopeful there will be no repercussions locally. I know the police are doing something on that,” Mr Day said. “We should not be making any assumptions, we should be leaving the investigation to police.” |
| From hope to horror: Timeline | From hope to horror: Timeline |
| Wednesday, 9pm: Mikaeel is put to bed at home in the Drylaw area of Edinburgh, according to his mother. | Wednesday, 9pm: Mikaeel is put to bed at home in the Drylaw area of Edinburgh, according to his mother. |
| Thursday, 7.15am: Ms Kular says his bed is empty. She raises the alarm. | Thursday, 7.15am: Ms Kular says his bed is empty. She raises the alarm. |
| 8.30am: A boy matching Mikaeel’s description is seen not far from the first-floor flat where he lives. | 8.30am: A boy matching Mikaeel’s description is seen not far from the first-floor flat where he lives. |
| 9am: Police Scotland announce that Mikaeel is missing and a search is under way. Officers are assisted by friends and neighbours of the family. | 9am: Police Scotland announce that Mikaeel is missing and a search is under way. Officers are assisted by friends and neighbours of the family. |
| 2.30pm: Coastguard teams and lifeboats search the nearby shoreline. | 2.30pm: Coastguard teams and lifeboats search the nearby shoreline. |
| 4pm: A Child Rescue Alert informs all UK police forces that he is missing. | 4pm: A Child Rescue Alert informs all UK police forces that he is missing. |
| Friday 17 January, 7am: Police say there has been a “fantastic” response from the public. | Friday 17 January, 7am: Police say there has been a “fantastic” response from the public. |
| 10am: Hundreds of people gather at the North Neighbourhood Centre in West Pilton Gardens to search. | 10am: Hundreds of people gather at the North Neighbourhood Centre in West Pilton Gardens to search. |
| 4.30pm: Police say the disappearance could be the result of “a criminal act”. | 4.30pm: Police say the disappearance could be the result of “a criminal act”. |
| Saturday 18 January, 12.30am: Police say a body has been found in Kirkcaldy, Fife, 30 miles away from Edinburgh. A person, later identified as Mikaeel’s mother, is detained in connection with his disappearance. | Saturday 18 January, 12.30am: Police say a body has been found in Kirkcaldy, Fife, 30 miles away from Edinburgh. A person, later identified as Mikaeel’s mother, is detained in connection with his disappearance. |
| 4pm: An ambulance carrying a body leaves the area. | 4pm: An ambulance carrying a body leaves the area. |
| Laura Wilkinson | Laura Wilkinson |