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AS THE RAIN fell, volunteers from various areas of the city took part in a co-ordinated search for missing Edinburgh three-year-old Mikaeel Kular.
The young boy has not been seen since 9pm Wednesday night when he was put to bed. Fears are growing for his safety in Scotland.
Police have issued a Child Rescue Alert, setting up a dedicated phoneline for tips on his whereabouts.
The current focus of the co-ordinated searches remains in the Drylaw area of Edinburgh which includes Muirhouse, Pennywell and Silverknowes. Officers have asked volunteers to wear appropriate clothing as they work and to keep their own safety at the forefront.
Before the night shift, they advised helpers on Twitter:
We are grateful for help, but your safety is paramount – wear warm clothes, sturdy footwear, prepare for weather and take heed of briefing.
Volunteers will be briefed, assigned officers to work with and areas. Please dress appropriately and prepare for the weather.
Mikaeel is described as two foot tall, of slim build and Asian appearance. He is possibly wearing a thigh length beige jacket with grey fur lined hood, black gloves with multi-coloured fingers, dark navy blue jogging bottoms, a grey pyjama top featuring an embroidered turquoise dinosaur on the chest and brown Clark shoes with two Velcro straps.
He has a faded scar on the bridge of his nose and a sore on the left hand side of his mouth.
Three year old Mikaeel Kular wearing the jacket police believe he was wearing when he disappeared. (Pic: Police Scotland)
Speaking at a press conference this morning, Superintendent Liz McAnish who is leading the investigation, said:
"We are deeply concerned we have no positive sightings of Mikaeel. There's lots of activity today, lots of police officers, helped by members of the public. I remain optimistic, I really do, but as time passes we become deeply concerned."
She added that there are currently no suspects in the case as there is no evidence of criminality.
Mikaeel's mother is being comforted by family and friends. His father has also spoken to police.
McAnish also urged people to be vigilant and check out any area where they see "something different or out of place".
"Also to revisit their gardens, sheds and outhouses - even if they checked them yesterday.
"Today, we are continuing with our search using specialist officers, police dogs and horses and the air support unit."
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I’m honestly shocked that this is not a matter of practice already, and that it had to be fought for.
Imagine the heartbreak of losing your partner in childbirth and being told you weren’t automatically entitled to a inquest?
@Abbie Cranky: I am not shocked at all to be honest, this is the country we live in, we vote for corrupt parties and we get a corrupt system because of this its very simple.
@Peter Hughes:
Fine Gael increasing their percentage of the vote despite the many health scandals happening on their watch.
One could easily despair of the myopia of the electorate if one was so inclined.
@Jimmy Coltrane: They’re not really though.Its all “within margin of error” stuff and when broken down doesn’t mean they’d be returned to government. If it did we’d have an election next September..
Shocking that it isn’t already the rule, I guess it’s part of the old Ireland, at least we do make some progress in some areas.
Well done to Claire Daly, it’s excellent legislation and well done to her for proposing it and for persisting with it for 3 years since 2015. Some people are quick to criticize her but she does excellent work and doesn’t deserve the grief some people give her. You might not always agree with her politics but you cannot argue with her work rate and she is the exception in a bunch of lazy and incompetent ministers.
Just waiting to see which Total Dichs oppose this.
@Ixtrix Net: Mattie McGrath step on down…
@Ixtrix Net: The new rules requiring the prompt treatment of sepsis will prevent a case like Savita’s happening ever again.
@Tom Molloy: Removing a septic foetus would have helped.
@Tom Molloy:
that’s a good thing, but, some thing should be pro-active, not , retro-active
@Ciara Ni Mhurchu: Savita lived for three days after the spontaneous miscarriage. No medic has said that an abortion would have made any difference to the out of control sepsis. Sepsis causes multiple organ failure, removing any one would not “cure” the sepsis nor would the removal of the fetus.
@Tom Molloy: Well Tom, thats just not true. A former Master of Holles St, a man at the top of his field said that early intervention, in this case abortion, would likely have prevented sepsis.
Can we stick to the truth please?
8 women all died by medical negligence yet only one name will stand out for most . Shameful.
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: No, they died because they were prevented from accessing abortion here at home.
How many can you name?
@Ciara Ni Mhurchu: Great to hear there are no sepsis related maternal deaths in the UK where abortion has been legal for years…..oh wait…
@Ciara Ni Mhurchu: did you even read the article?
I wonder where would women’s voices be heard without @ClareDalyTD?
What if the family don’t want the death reported. This is often the case in suicide or OD.
Clare Daly is a beacon in a sea of …. (express exasperation here)
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: suicide and OD would always be reported. This is about death during or shortly after childbirth.
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