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Alice Gross disappearance: Suspect Arnis Zalkalns has murder conviction | Alice Gross disappearance: Suspect Arnis Zalkalns has murder conviction |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man wanted in connection with the disappearance of 14-year-old Alice Gross is a convicted murderer, police have revealed. | |
The schoolgirl was last seen on 28 August when she was spotted on CCTV by the Grand Union Canal in west London. | |
Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalns, who used the same route to get to work, went missing a week later. | Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalns, who used the same route to get to work, went missing a week later. |
The 41-year-old served seven years in prison for murder in Latvia after being convicted in 1998, police said. | The 41-year-old served seven years in prison for murder in Latvia after being convicted in 1998, police said. |
Det Supt Carl Mehta, from Scotland Yard's Homicide and Major Crime Command, said Mr Zalkalns may pose a risk to the public. | |
He added that he was not wanted in Latvia, he had served his time and had not been on police records in the UK. | He added that he was not wanted in Latvia, he had served his time and had not been on police records in the UK. |
Police said he was also arrested in the Ealing area of west London in 2009 for indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl, but no further action was taken. | Police said he was also arrested in the Ealing area of west London in 2009 for indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl, but no further action was taken. |
Mr Mehta stressed that police had no evidence suggesting Alice had come to harm. | |
"This is not a murder inquiry in the sense that we don't have any evidence or information to say that Alice is not alive," he said. | |
Mr Zalkalns was seen on CCTV on 28 August cycling along Brentford Lock at 16:00 BST, 15 minutes after Alice walked that route. He was last seen on 3 September. | Mr Zalkalns was seen on CCTV on 28 August cycling along Brentford Lock at 16:00 BST, 15 minutes after Alice walked that route. He was last seen on 3 September. |
Police also appealed for the public's help tracking down Mr Zalkaln's red mountain bike. | |
Latvian authorities told the Metropolitan Police (Met) about Mr Zalkaln's murder conviction "in the last few days", Scotland Yard said. | Latvian authorities told the Metropolitan Police (Met) about Mr Zalkaln's murder conviction "in the last few days", Scotland Yard said. |
Asked if he posed a threat to the public, Mr Mehta said: "I think given what we are finding out about his antecedents and his history, clearly he potentially poses a risk to the public. | |
"I would ask if anyone sees him not to approach him but to immediately dial 999 and contact the police." | |
Police have received more than 100 calls to their #FindAlice investigation after an appeal on BBC Crimewatch earlier this week. | Police have received more than 100 calls to their #FindAlice investigation after an appeal on BBC Crimewatch earlier this week. |
A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for anyone who has information that leads police to find the missing girl. | A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for anyone who has information that leads police to find the missing girl. |
Scotland Yard has released an interactive map of the route Alice took. | Scotland Yard has released an interactive map of the route Alice took. |
Mr Zalkalns has been in UK since 2007. He has a partner and young child living in Ealing. | Mr Zalkalns has been in UK since 2007. He has a partner and young child living in Ealing. |
He has not accessed his bank account or used his mobile phone and his passport was left at his house, said police. | |
He had been working as a labourer on a building site in Isleworth, west London, before his disappearance. |