Missing girl’s family plea for safe return

In a statement, read out by Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan of Dyfed Powys police, April’s family said: “Last night our lives were shattered when our beautiful little girl April who was playing with friends was taken from us. We are devastated and our lives have stopped. Please, please if you have our little girl, let her come home to us.”

He also confirmed that police had recovered a mid-90s, L-registered, left-hand-drive Land Rover Discovery.

The statement went on: “This is such a small, close-knit community and we plead with anyone who has any information, no matter how small they may think it is, to contact the police immediately. Please help us bring home our beautiful little girl.”

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Bevan said detectives were “following various lines of inquiry”.

Abduction

He told the media: “We are continuing the investigation into the abduction of five-year-old April Jones from Machynlleth.

“As you are aware, an arrest was made earlier today at approximately 3.30pm of a 46-year-old local man on suspicion of abduction.

“He remains in police custody at Aberystwyth Police Station and we will be interviewing him this evening.

“April was abducted at around 7pm on Monday night from Brynygog estate in Machynlleth.

“We are still following various lines of inquiry with the priority to find April.

“This is a criminal investigation and we are not able to comment on any speculation or rumour which could jeopardise the integrity of the investigation, but we will still provide specially trained family liaison officers to support the family and in fact there are senior officers with them at this moment.”

Mountain search experts

Ten search teams have been combing the area around Machynlleth, Wales where the five-year-old was spotted “willingly” getting into a light-coloured van. Mountain search experts have been leading volunteers.

Volunteers took a day off work and drove from far away towns to find the little girl. Police were appealing for nearby business owners and neighbours who may have CCTV footage to come forward.

Hundreds crammed the town’s community centre on Tuesday afternoon waiting to be deployed. They were being grouped into 20s and assigned a mountain rescue expert due to the nature of the harsh terrain around Machynlleth. Police dog teams were also deployed.

A family friend said April, her sister and their mother Coral had just returned from the girls’ school when April’s mother went inside to make tea. 10 minutes later, he said, April was missing.

Anyone who was in the area around 7pm last night or who believes they have information is asked to contact police on 0300 2000 333

The local council suspended refuse and recycling collection in Machynlleth and closed the town’s civic amenity centre so staff could could join the search. Locals gathered at Machynlleth leisure centre last night and again this morning as news of her disappearance spread on social network sites.

Hundreds of people have signed up to a dedicated page on Facebook – with users of the social networking site from all over the UK hoping to increase awareness of April’s disappearance. Those joining the group are able to download a missing poster, featuring three photographs of the youngster, before sharing it on their profile.

Chris Dudley, who works at the Skinners Arms in Penrallt Street, said the pub was empty last night, with many of the locals joining the hunt.

“All the locals are looking for her in this area – the cemeteries, the golf field, playing field, everywhere you can think of,” Mr Dudley said.

Det Superintendent Bevan said he hoped to have specific details about the vehicle later.

The town’s mayor, Gareth Jones, said: “We’re all rallying around.”

Child protection experts called in

As of last night, experts from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) were drafted into help last night.

Charlie Hedges, manager for missing, abducted and kidnapped children for Ceop, said he was called at 11pm last night for help on the case and worked through the night.

“When the job first came in it was limited information about a five-year-old girl,” he said, adding the situation was complicated by the age of the witnesses and the late hour April was taken.

“There are the challenges of how you interview a child to get the right information, and with the time of day. You can’t interview them through the night.”

He said: “The main thing to start off is the high-profile media response using the Child Rescue Alert system, encouraging people to give their information.

“But in the background there’s an investigation ongoing looking at what has happened in the local area, evaluating the information, carrying out searches, examining CCTV.

“We are engaged in the investigation, we are pursuing some lines.”

‘Stunned and devastated’

Neighbours on the small estate have been expressing their shock today.

“The general feeling is one of disbelief, nobody can take it on board,” said Mathew Harris, 22, who lives on the estate.

“I was born and grew up on this estate and remember what it was like as a kid. Everyone played with everyone else,” he said.

“It’s the same today. Kids play out together and everyone looks after everyone else. Somebody said that this estate once won an award as the safest in Powys.

The estate is surrounded on three sides by tree-covered hills and at the centre it has some open greens where the local children play.

Usually, the greens are considered so safe that unattended bicycles and balls are left lying on the grass.

Mr Harris said: “Every new family that comes to live here says what a great place it is to bring up kids. They can run free outside, riding bikes or playing football, without any trouble.

“What happened last night is unbelievable. Paul and Coral are loving parents and everyone is devastated for them.”