APRIL JONES 5 - Machynlleth, Wales (UK) - 01/10/12

The Telegraph

2 October 2012

April Jones: hundreds search for five-year-old girl feared abducted
April Jones had been riding a bike with a friend before she was seen getting into a light coloured van.

A major search is under way for a missing five-year-old girl who was feared abducted while out playing near her home.

Hundreds of local residents from Machynlleth in mid-Wales have been helping police hunt for April Jones, who it is claimed was last seen getting into a light coloured van yesterday evening before it drove off.

Dyfed-Powys Police said they were becoming "increasingly concerned" for the safety of the child, who was last seen out in the town riding a bike with a friend before she vanished.

Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan of Dyfed-Powys Police told Sky News that because the initial account of April's abduction came from children, police were involved in a "delicate and lengthy process" to get the best information.

He said: "Hopefully, later this morning I'll have some more details around the vehicle, specific details, and we are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry around that vehicle, where it may or may not be at this moment in time."

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Daily Mail

Have you seen April? Desperate search for girl, 5, 'seen getting into a van' after playing on her bike outside her home

2 October 2012

• April Jones got into a grey or light-coloured van, witnesses reported

• Disappeared from Welsh town of Machynlleth at about 7pm on Monday

• Hundreds of local residents take to streets in hunt for missing child

• Police: 'We are becoming increasingly concerned for her safety'

• Posters bearing the message 'Kidnapped' produced to raise awareness

• Cars entering and leaving the town stopped and searched

A frantic search is underway after a five-year-old girl playing on her bicycle with a friend near her home was last night abducted by a stranger.

Police and hundreds of residents searched through the night for April Jones, who was taken into a van in the town of Machynlleth in Wales.

Officers were today comforting her distressed parents Coral, 40, and Paul, 43, who were said to be ‘besides themselves with worry’.

Detectives said they were becoming 'increasingly concerned' for the girl, who disappeared in the grey or light-coloured vehicle at around 7pm.

A large number of officers and specialist teams are investigating April's disappearance.

An estimated 200 residents gathered outside the town’s leisure centre while others combed nearby woods and playing fields.

Dyfed Powys Police said that April was wearing a purple knee-length coat with grey fur around the hood, a white polo shirt and black trousers.

A spokesman said: 'Her abduction took place around 7pm in the Bryn Y Gog estate in Machynlleth.

'It was witnessed by another young child when April was seen getting into a grey or light-coloured van, or van-sized vehicle.

'While the details of what happened are vague at the current time, it appears the suspect left the scene and drove off with April.

'At the time of her disappearance, April was wearing a purple knee-length coat with grey fur around the hood, her school white polo top and black trousers.

'Many police officers and specialist teams have worked through the night, with extensive searches taking place, and many lines of inquiry are being pursued.'

Police family liaison officers are also helping the little girl's family, the spokeswoman said.

Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan of Dyfed-Powys Police told Sky News that because the initial account of April's abduction came from children, police were involved in a 'delicate and lengthy process' to get the best information.

He said: 'Hopefully, later this morning I'll have some more details around the vehicle, specific details, and we are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry around that vehicle, where it may or may not be at this moment in time.'

Mr Bevan asked anyone who was in the area around 7pm last night or who believes they have information to contact police on 0300 2000 333 .


Earlier, Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Powell said: 'We are obviously becoming increasing concerned for her (April's) safety and are asking for any one with information to please contact us.'

Dog teams have been involved in the operation to find the five-year-old, and cars in and out of the small market town, which has a population of 2,000, were being stopped and searched, police said.

April's disappearance has sparked concern in the local area, as well as further afield.

Hundreds of people from across the UK have already signed up to a dedicated Facebook page in a bid to raise awareness.

Those joining the group are able to download a missing poster, featuring three photographs of the youngster, before sharing it on their profile.

One mother wrote: 'It's every parent's worst nightmare.'

A neighbour, Gwyn Briwnant-Jones, 55, said April, who has a 16-year-old sister and a ten-year-old brother, comes from a loving home.

Her mother Coral, 40, raised the alarm when her daughter failed to return home from riding on her bicycle with her friend nearby.

Mr Briwnant-Jones said: ‘Most of the town has been looking for the little girl.

'April’s mother knew she was playing with another little girl and when she didn’t come home she went to the other girl’s house to look for her.

‘That’s when the girl said April had been taken in a van.’

‘They’re a lovely family,’ he said. ‘They haven’t had any problems that I know of.’

Businessman Shem ap Geraint, who joined the search, said: ‘Pretty much the whole town is out looking. Other local towns are joining in as well.

‘We are searching local woods. The local leisure centre is acting as a base.’

Chris Dudley, who works at the Skinners Arms pub, near the girl’s home, said the bar was deserted last night.

He said: ‘All the locals are looking for her in this area – the cemeteries, the golf field, playing field, everywhere you can think of.‘

There’s no one in [the pub] tonight, everybody is outside looking for her.’

Inspector Kevin Davies said 'every angle' of the investigation was being covered.

He told the BBC that police dog teams were involved in the operation and that cars in and out of the town were being stopped and searched by officers.

A family liaison officer is also keeping the 'devastated' relatives of missing April informed of any developments, Inspector Davies added.

Locals have put up posters of April around the town as part of their search efforts.

Restaurant owner Razul Islam said neighbours saw the youngster playing outside her doorstep before she vanished.

‘There are hundreds of people out looking for her,’ Mr Islam said.

'It is such a small town and nearly everyone is out looking for her – I’m shocked that it has happened in a town like this.'

Petrol station owner Nerys Zjalic said she had reopened the garage to help with the search.

Ms Zjalic, who runs Reads Garage, told ITV Wales: 'We'll stay open all night if we have to.

'We heard about the search through social networking sites and there was a lot of people going past our house.'

My friend called to ask if we would open so people can get petrol to help in the search. Locals are out in full force searching for her.'

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she said that some people had returned home overnight, but were planning to reconvene their search this morning.

'It just shows the community spirit of the town and how people get together in a crisis to do anything they can to help,' she added.

Ms Zjalic, who knows the missing girl's family, said people had been coming from far and wide to help with the search.

'It's unbelievable - you just don't think that something like that would happen in a small town like Machynlleth.

'Nothing will be the same again - this is a small little market town and you think children are quite safe but this shows us it's not the case.'

She continued: 'People just can't believe such a thing has happened.

'The whole town is devastated and in shock.'

Ms Zjalic said that volunteers had flocked to the town to take part, adding: 'One lady came in and she had come from Caernarfon, which is North Wales, so I suppose you are looking at 80-odd miles.

'She said "I saw it on Facebook and I couldn't sleep, so I came down".'

Machynlleth is situated in the Dyfi Valley and sits on the southern outskirts of Snowdonia National Park.

Search volunteer Anwen Morris said locals had searched an area with a 30-mile radius overnight using quad bikes and off-road vehicles.

'The most important thing here is to get this little girl home,' she told Sky News.

County councillor Michael Williams, who also joined in the search efforts, said: 'People were co-ordinated by the police and as well as searching the town they went out into forested areas of the valley and wooded areas and out into hamlets and byroads.'

Speaking about April's relatives, he added: 'They are such a lovely, caring family and they are devastated.

'The community is shocked and stunned over what's happened.'

Councillor Williams said April's parents were 'a really nice young couple who recently helped to create a very nice garden on their estate with fruit trees.

‘This a really close knit community – the whole village is sad. Nothing like this has ever happened before.’

Anyone with information about April Jones's disappearance should contact Dyfed-Powys Police on 0300 2000 333

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Sky News

Missing April Jones Got Into Van 'Willingly'

A young girl who is thought to have been abducted was last seen climbing into the driver's side of a van 'willingly'.

1:04pm UK, Tuesday 02 October 2012

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

ITV News

Missing five-year-old April Jones seen getting into van

- last updated Tue 2 Oct 2012

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

SKy News

2 October 2012

Missing April Jones: 46-Year-Old Man Arrested
A 46-year-old man is arrested as the search continues for a five-year-old girl who was abducted last night.

A 46-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of five-year-old April Jones.

Police said the search is continuing for the little girl who was last seen playing on her bicycle with friends near her home in the Bryn Y Gog estate in Machynlleth, mid Wales, at around 7pm last night.

She was last spotted by another child getting into a grey or light-coloured van - similar to a Ford Transit Connect or Land Rover-type vehicle.

Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said the suspect was arrested in the last hour, and they had been "actively looking for him".

He said the suspect is a local man and drives a vehicle similar to the one in the police appeal. He was walking by the side of the road, just outside the town, when he was seized.

"We were keen to trace him," Mr Bevan added.

Sky's Mark White, at the scene, said it is believed a van that may have been used in the abduction has been found near a bridge on the outskirts of the town.

The little girl was wearing a purple knee-length coat with grey fur around the hood, a white polo top, and black trousers, when she was abducted.

A huge appeal has been launched on Twitter, with many celebrities tweeting and re-tweeting the message. Her poster is also being circulated on Facebook.

Her parents Paul and Coral were due to read a statement at the news conference at 4.30pm, but instead police gave news of the man's arrest.

April's godmother Mair Raftree, 41, from Aberystwyth, told Wales Online: "She's a quiet girl. She would never go with anybody and ask for a lift. We just want her back safely."

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Everyone in Ireland holding out hope here.

Daily Mail

BREAKING NEWS - Man, 46, held in hunt for April: Hundreds in search for missing five-year-old after she was 'taken by van driver'

• Suspect was arrested walking near girl's town and police recover van
  
• It's understood man was known to her family - but wasn't a relative
  
• Sky News names suspect as Mark Bridger, but no official confirmation
  
• Woman seen 'in tears' driven into cordoned-off area where arrest was made
  
• Hundreds of local residents search 25-mile radius for missing child
  
• Police tonight enforcing a restricted access down the A487
  
• Searches are understood to be taking place along this stretch of road
  
• Police officers are becoming 'increasingly concerned' for girl's safety
  
• April Jones seen by a friend getting into a stranger's van on Monday
  
• Her parents in Machynlleth, Wales, are 'beside themselves with worry'
  
• DS Reg Bevan of Dyfed-Powys Police said 'sooner we find her the better'
  
• Friend who was with April gives police vital clues on driver's appearance
  
• Police reveal another attempted abduction took place in area last month

By Mark Duell, Rob Preece, Hannah Roberts and Emine Sinmaz

PUBLISHED:00:12, 2 October 2012| UPDATED:19:24, 2 October 2012

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

It is so hard all the news snippets.

April it is reported has celebral palsy and IBS too so needs daily medication.( Daily Mail & Sky News)

One good thing from all this are the massive efforts by so many professionals helping to find her between mountain rescue, specialist Police Officers, kayakers, hovercraft operators,dog handlers etc.

Nothing new to add to this sad case at the moment.

The response from the public has been amazing, hats off to the police, coast guard, mountain rescue, dog handlers, police divers, other agencies involved and all the volunteers working in very difficult conditions in the hope of returning April safely to her family. There is some very bad weather and heavy rain forcast through out Wales over night but the search will continue... I pray each time I turn on Sky News (about every hr)that there will be some good news. Having a little one in the house I cannot leave the news on 24/7 as she tends to get sucked into things she sees and hears on the TV and then ends up distressed and upset...... So everything crossed and praying harder that my 9pm check in will be good news......

My heart goes out to April's family, I cannot even begin to imagine what they are going through......

Hi Twiggy, totally agree. I was away from news for day really busy with life and really hoped some concrete news by now. All efforts are being done. It is beyond words the pain. I just hope answers will happen as we all know worst part about the Missing.

Sky News (Watching TV)

Mark Bridger who was arrested on Tuesday and questioned about the abduction of April Jones has been rearrested while in custody on suspicion of her murder.
April's body has not been found and police have now asked local people to leave the search to the trained search teams as the hunt moved away from a rescue mission to one of finding her body.... They are concentrating their search efforts on a two mile section of the river, they will not divulge what evidence came to light overnight but they are committed to finding April. The home office are sending in a sonar boat which will be launched on the river later this afternoon in the hope of finding April's body...

At 4pm this afternoon it was announced that Mark Bridger had been charged with the murder of April Jones.
He was also charged with child abduction and peverting the course of justice.
He will make his first court appearence on Monday.
The search is still ongoing, a body has not yet been found, the police are committed to finding April and returning her to her family.

This is such a sad case and I pray April will be found so she can be returned to her family. God only knows what her family are going through i only hope they get some comfort from the support and compassion that the villagers and neighbours have shown. As a community they should all feel very proud.
I have felt so many emotions towards this case over the last week and i think it has taken us all back to 2007. I only have praise for the police who appear to have done everything within their powers to find april and her abductor.
At times its made me think if only Madeleine had been searched for with the same intensity the case could too of been solved as quick.
I have got angry when i have heard people saying why was she outside at that time of night? and blaming her parents. They have nothing to anwer to, she was not alone she was playing with other children and WHO took that right away from her and all our children that they can not play safely outside with their friends, her abductor commited this awful crime no one else.
As children many of us would happily play outside untill dark and after, without so much as a second thought from our parents when did this all change? Our children are often couped up inside now because we live in fear of this sort of thing happening and why should we, these evil perpatrators should pay with punishments to fit the crimes and its way over due that this started to happen.
sorry for the rant bit but i sure i am not alone with my anger.
Still hoping for a miricle.

karen x

Is there no new news on this poor little girl ?

Telegraph

10 October 2012

The tangled family ties between Mark Bridger and April Jones
The man suspected of murdering April Jones is related to her family, it can be revealed.

.... Mr Bridger, who was unshaven and wearing glasses and a dark top, spoke to acknowledge the proceedings and confirm his name during the 20-minute hearing.

He was remanded in custody to appear at a plea and case management hearing on January 11 at the same court ahead of a trial later in the year.

It will be overseen by Mr Justice Griffith Williams, a High Court judge.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Huffington Post UK

16 October 2012

Tensions High In Wales As Search For April Jones Continues

Mountain rescue teams are to revisit the town of Machynlleth in the ongoing search for missing five-year-old April Jones.

Dyfed Powys Police have emphasised the search for April is continuing at the same level of intensity as it has been from the beginning, but that specific areas are now being targeted.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

This is so heartbreaking xxx

Sky News

Missing April Jones: Police Search Called Off

A six-month search for the missing five-year-old comes to an end, as police say they have looked everywhere around Machynlleth.

6:56pm UK, Monday 22 April 2013

Police searching for five-year-old April Jones have completed their search in and around the Welsh town where she went missing.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]