Police Scotland are asking for the public’s help after a potential sighting of a child matching the description of Mikaeel Kular.
Members of the public have come forward as a result of information appeals and reported seeing a boy at West Pilton Gardens, Edinburgh, yesterday morning at around 8.30am. The timing of the sighting has been confirmed by CCTV inquiries although these cannot confirm the identity of the child.
Superintendent Liz McAinsh said: “Since Mikaeel was reported missing, we have been contacted by a number of people with information which we have been working to assess and respond to. Members of the public have come forward to report seeing a boy walking in the vicinity of West Pilton Gardens at 8.30am yesterday. The witnesses were in a vehicle driving down West Pilton Gardens at the time they saw the boy. They described seeing a small boy on the right hand side pavement running towards the junction with West Pilton Park. They noticed him because he was small in build and alone at the time. They said he matched the description given of Mikaeel although they also reported the child they saw was wearing a cap or hat.
“We would ask that anyone who also saw this child contact us as a matter of urgency. We need to confirm if this was Mikaeel or if it was another child. If it is your child who was out at this time and in this location, we want to hear from you so we can eliminate this line of inquiry as swiftly as possible.”
Retired Detective Superintendent Bert Swanson said: “It is very encouraging to hear that but I would expect to hear of a number of potential sightings. There has been so much publicity and people are eager and keen to assist, therefore the priority is to ensure that whoever this child is to identify him as quickly as possible.
“The priority at this stage of course is to find out exactly where the boy is and to return him safe and well; the secondary priority is to establish the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.”
Anyone with information relating to this sighting is asked to contact the dedicated telephone number 0300 200 0200 and speak to Police Scotland.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
