April Jones is missing in Machynlleth: news round-up

APRIL Jones is missing. The five-year-old was abducted last night while out playing on her bike near the Brynygog estats in Machynlleth, Wales. Dyfed-Powys Police are searching for her. The media is excited.

UPDATE: A 46-year-old man has been arrested.

Update 2: He’s called Mark Bridger.

Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan, from Dyfed Powys Police, says:

“We were pursuing a number of inquiries, some of those were searching addresses. We were looking for this individual, so we knew who we were looking for and as a result we have had a number of patrols in the area and we have come across this individual.”

Voices says he knew the girl’s family.

A police spokeswoman says:

“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.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Powell adds:

“Dyfed-Powys Police have launched an intensive search and criminal investigation into the abduction of a five-year-old girl, April Jones, in Machynlleth. April was last seen playing on a bicycle near her home address at around 7.30pm and was seen getting into what we believe was a light-coloured van which then drove off…We are obviously becoming increasing concerned for her safety and are asking for anyone with information to please contact us on 101.”

The Mail introduces the fmaily:

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…”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.”

The Huffington Post fills some space with:

Machynlleth played a key role in Welsh history. According to Canolfan Owain Glyn Dwr Centre:

During the summer of 1404 a unique meeting took place in Machynlleth, in mid Wales. Representatives of communities from many parts of Wales and dignitaries from France, Scotland. and Castile (Spain) came to the coronation of Owain Glyn Dŵr as prince of an independent Wales.

All below a photo of a missing child. The HuffPo adds:

There is an abundance of outdoor activities such as mountain biking, riding and bird watching.

Sky’s David Crabtree@Skymids tweets:

We can hear searchers calling April Jones’s name in the woods.

As ever, the media turns to the benchmark of missing children:

The McCann’s official spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: “Kate and Gerry are aware of the case and their thoughts and prayers are with April, her family and the local community.

Such are the facts…