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Alice Gross: police dredge London canal in search for missing schoolgirl Alice Gross investigation widens as search for missing schoolgirl intensifies
(about 7 hours later)
Detectives searching for missing schoolgirl Alice Gross have dredged a stretch of canal near to where she was last seen more than a month ago. Detectives searching for the missing schoolgirl Alice Gross have widened the ground-level operation to include a park two miles from where she was last seen five weeks ago.
Officers sifted through part of the Grand Union canal in west London on Sunday but failed to recover any clues, Scotland Yard said. Scotland Yard confirmed that officers were carrying out searches in Osterley Park, west London, on Monday in an expansion of the investigation.
The search of the canal came exactly a month since 14-year-old Alice failed to return home, sparking the biggest Metropolitan police hunt since the 7/7 London bombings in 2005. Two teams of police officers were seen with picks and other equipment scouring scrubland in the park, two miles from the canal towpath where Alice was last seen on 28 August.
Police sifted through part of the nearby Grand Union canal on Sunday but failed to recover any clues, Scotland Yard said.
It has been a month since 14-year-old Alice failed to return home, sparking the biggest Metropolitan police hunt since the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.
The schoolgirl was last seen on CCTV cameras at 4.26pm on 28 August, walking under a bridge heading towards Hanwell, having left her home at about 1pm.The schoolgirl was last seen on CCTV cameras at 4.26pm on 28 August, walking under a bridge heading towards Hanwell, having left her home at about 1pm.
As the investigation into her disappearance entered its second month, officers searched the Grand Union canal for possessions including Alice’s white iPhone – which detectives have said could hold the key to the mystery. Officers searched the canal for possessions including Alice’s white iPhone, which detectives have said could hold the key to her disappearance.
A Metropolitan police spokesman said: “That search was conducted as part of the wider search and nothing of significance was found. Searches are ongoing.”A Metropolitan police spokesman said: “That search was conducted as part of the wider search and nothing of significance was found. Searches are ongoing.”
The RAF has provided “aerial analysis” to detectives, pinpointing areas of interest and looking for patches of disturbed earth.The RAF has provided “aerial analysis” to detectives, pinpointing areas of interest and looking for patches of disturbed earth.
A team of 30 detectives will on Monday continue poring over hours of CCTV footage taken from about 300 cameras – amounting to 35 terabytes of material, or about 10,000 hours of video – covering a 6 sq mile area. A team of 30 detectives is poring over hours of CCTV footage taken from about 300 cameras – amounting to 35 terabytes of material, or about 10,000 hours of video – covering a 6 sq mile area.
Officers are also still trying to trace prime suspect Arnis Zalkalns, who police believe encountered Alice shortly before the last known sighting of her. Officers fear Zalkalns, 41, who was convicted in Latvia in 1998 for murdering his wife, may have fled abroad. Officers are still trying to trace the prime suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, who police believe encountered Alice shortly before the last known sighting. Officers fear Zalkalns, 41, who was convicted in Latvia in 1998 for murdering his wife, may have fled abroad.
Alice’s mother, Rosalind Hodgkiss, said: “Every morning, as Alice’s disappearance grows longer and longer, brings new agony, new anguish.”Alice’s mother, Rosalind Hodgkiss, said: “Every morning, as Alice’s disappearance grows longer and longer, brings new agony, new anguish.”
A Met spokesman said it continues to be a “massive investigation”. A Met spokesman said: “A range of officers and staff from across the Met are taking part in the ever-expanding search for Alice. To date the search has involved the Met’s underwater and confined space search team, marine support unit, search dogs, air support unit, territorial support group, local borough officers, volunteer police cadets, visual images identification and detections officers, plus licensed search officers.”
“A range of officers and staff from across the Met are taking part in the ever-expanding search for Alice,” he said.
“To date the search has involved the Met’s underwater and confined space search team, marine support unit, search dogs, air support unit, territorial support group, local borough officers, volunteer police cadets, visual images identification and detections officers, plus licensed search officers.”
There is a £20,000 reward for any information that helps police to find Alice. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8358 0100, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.There is a £20,000 reward for any information that helps police to find Alice. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8358 0100, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.