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Superintendent Liz McAinsh appeals for information at Fettes Police Station in Edinburgh. Danny Lawsonn/PA Wire

Disappearance of three-year-old Mikaeel Kular 'may have been criminal act'

Edinburgh Police have said that the child may have left the house of his own accord but may also have disappeared as a result of a criminal act.

EDINBURGH POLICE HAVE said that they have had a “positive response” to a reported sighting of missing three-year-old Mikaeel Kular but have had no confirmed sightings since he was last seen on Wednesday evening.

Assistant chief constable Malcolm Graham told a media briefing this evening that there is “grave concern” because it is approaching 48 hours since the last confirmed sighting of Mikaeel.

He said that police are engaged in a “twin track” investigation into Mikaeel’s disappearance:

We must examine every possibility. It’s entirely possible that Mikaeel has left the house of his own accord, however, it is also possible that he has gone missing as a result of criminal act and as a result our investigation is taking a twin track.

Graham says that police are taking this joint approach because after “all the work that we’ve been doing we’ve been unable to confirm any sightings”.

Superintendent Liz McAinsh stressed however that there has been no change in the direction in the investigation and that it is still a search for a missing person.

“The search will continue until we have any indication that that search shouldn’t continue,” she said.

Police have also confirmed that Mikaeel had not returned to nursery since Christmas due to a bad chest infection. The illness was the reason why he was sleeping alone on the night he disappeared as he usually shared a room with his sister.

McAinsh says that they have already put out a call to all ports and airports to remain vigilant as is routine in these cases but that “the search parameters have been extensive as the level of concern grows”.

Graham also said that “with the passage of time our worry is heightened” and stressed that the investigation may have to get bigger.

“We need to have the scale of investigation required. We’ve had positive responses to that (the possible sighting) but we need to more work to bottom that out,” he said.

Read: Potential sighting of 3-year-old Mikaeel in Edinburgh >

Read: Edinburgh police release new picture as search for 3-year-old goes on >

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74 Comments
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    Mute gary kelly
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:24 PM

    The man has had nearly every Victorias secret model going. He deserves an Oscar for that alone.LEGEND!!!!

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    Mute Mick
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:46 PM

    He was fantastic in Blood Diamond. If Denzel got one for Training Day then Leonardo Di Caprio deserves several.

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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:51 PM

    well said.. Training day was absolute drivel…… But it wasn’t the acting densel got it for that year which is a shame, as it tarnishes his award….

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    Mute Richard Cynical
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    Oct 24th 2015, 7:37 AM

    just give the man an Oscar

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    Mute gordon kennedy
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:27 PM

    Should have got the gong for django.. He was immense in that..

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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 9:33 PM

    He stole the show. Incredible performance.

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    Mute Supernova
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:18 PM

    How he hasn’t got an Oscar yet is beyond me, he should be in with a shout out his year with this film look epic. Watched beasts of no nation on Netflix last night, and the supporting actor, just a kid (Abraham attah) deserves an Oscar for his performance, best child acting I’ve ever seen.

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    Mute Margaret Daly
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:26 PM

    last one seen shutter island. brilliant!

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    Mute mike litoris
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:29 PM

    He should have got an Oscar for basketball diaries.

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    Mute Alan O'Driscoll
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:34 PM

    What film would ya give him the oscar for though? Whilst I love pretty much all of his work, I don’t think I’ve seen him in a quintessential Oscar role until this one.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:36 PM

    He should have got one for Wolf of Wall Street, epic film.

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    Mute Supernova
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:41 PM

    he studied the YouTube video of “the drunkest man in the world” before doing the drunk/drug drinking scene lol

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    Mute Alan O'Driscoll
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:42 PM

    Yeah, immense film but not really an oscar performance. His performance in that is never gonna be better than the McConaissance in Dallas Buyers club.

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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 9:35 PM

    He should have gotten best supporting oscar for his role in Django Unchained.

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    Mute Colm Connolly
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 11:43 PM

    no Christopher waltz fulles deserved his oscar from the same movie

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    Mute Alan Walsh
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:11 PM

    It looks claaaaaaaass

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:29 PM

    Jesus, give him an Oscar before he does something silly.

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    Mute Jamsey
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:34 PM

    Before??? Did you read the article?? The lad has gone full “Daniel Day Lewis”….

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    Mute Eamonn Connaghan
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 9:08 PM

    Never, ever, go full Daniel day Lewis.

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    Mute ChocSaltyBallz
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    Oct 24th 2015, 12:51 AM

    ain’t nottin but a ting ain’t nottin but a ting

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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 9:04 PM

    Should a got ozzie for this boys life . A mediocre movie but his acting at that age alongside De Niro and the kicking De Niro gave him was pretty intense

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    Mute burner
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:32 PM

    ditto for wolf of wall street

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    Mute John Collins
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:33 PM

    He should have gotten the Oscar for Revolutionary Road and Django Unchained. Also, eating bison liver isn’t a big deal.

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    Mute Pedro Brasco
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    Oct 24th 2015, 9:00 AM

    Ya but eating raw bison liver is a big deal.

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    Mute TellingItAsItIs
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:26 PM

    The poor divil! I sincerely hope his wage helps dull this dreadfully traumatic experience.

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    Mute Declan O'meara
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 11:32 PM

    Had the pleasure of meeting him once in new York city , very down to earth guy and no bull shit out of him either , very witty

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    Mute .
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:13 PM

    He should try acting

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    Mute mike litoris
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:51 PM

    When he’s finished riding his supermodel girlfriend on a private yacht,hopefully he’ll take the time to log into the journal and read your comment. That will get his motivation for success going.

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    Mute Padraig Piarais Mac AnTsaoir
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 9:16 PM

    Mike, if you were here, I would munch on you till dawn.

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    Mute Alan O'connor
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:42 PM

    Inarittu is a total fraud. 21 Grams, Babel, Birdman. The emperor wearing absolutely no clothes. I suspect this will be drivel as well. I like DiCaprio but his quality control is gone to the dogs lately.

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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 9:37 PM

    Nonsense. I can’t remember him ever doing a poor movie. He produces non stop quality performances.

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    Mute William Boyd
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 10:27 PM

    Have to agree with Alan about the director a bit like that Wes Anderson another emperor with no clothes.

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    Mute Paddy
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 11:49 PM

    I like the grand Budapest hotel in fairness.

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    Mute William Boyd
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    Oct 24th 2015, 12:18 AM

    From a personal perspective Paddy for me it was like pulling teeth with a pliers without anesthetic.

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    Mute Gary Kennedy
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:13 PM

    Anything for an Oscar

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    Mute Neil Cash
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    Oct 24th 2015, 9:58 AM

    I know a lot of jokes are made about Leo’s failures at Oscar level but regardless he does have one of the most impressive backlog of film around – this looks to continue that with this. I really like him and hope this gets him the Oscar nod

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Oct 23rd 2015, 8:29 PM

    Dances With Bears?

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    Mute M
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    Oct 24th 2015, 7:28 AM

    Fassbender as Jobs willl be a condender too, he looks like he nails the role

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    Mute Kate Reddin
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    Oct 24th 2015, 9:01 AM

    He was nominared for best supporting actor in “whats eating gilbert grape”. He should have won for definate but didn’t and that was 20 years ago. He is constantly snubbed at the oscars so they must have a problem with him. The only film he wasn’t amazing in was titanic and I don’t blame him for that

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    Mute Robert Allen
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    Oct 24th 2015, 8:32 AM

    Superb actor

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Oct 24th 2015, 10:32 PM

    Is he mad?

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