UK police granted more time to interview Bridger
British police looking for April Jones said they are trying to “piece together” Mark Bridger’s movements around the time the five-year-old disappeared after they were given until 5pm tomorrow to question him.
Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan from Dyfed Powys Police said 46-year-old Bridger would be interviewed again today.
He told reporters at a press conference: “The investigation continues and our focus remains finding April.
“The investigation team will be interviewing Mark Bridger again today and we will continue to piece together his movements during the relevant times and look to overlay his account with that we’ve gleaned from witnesses, sightings and the other inquiries that we are conducting.”
April has been missing since around 7pm on Monday when she vanished while playing with friends.
He said a “vast” amount of forensic analysis is being carried out, forming a “crucial part” of the inquiry, but this alone would not find the young girl.
“Again I make an appeal to the public to help us find April, and in particular we are looking to trace the movements of Mark Bridger between 6.30pm on Monday and 3.30pm on Tuesday of this week and any sightings of him between these times,” Mr Bevan said.
“If anyone has had contact with him during this period, we urge you to come forward. And by contact I mean face-to-face contact, telephone contact, texting, social media, any contact whatsoever.”
Police are also appealing for information about his blue Land Rover Discovery, registration number L503 MEP.
Superintendent Ian John said that he understood why volunteers wanted to help in the search for April, and asked for people to come forward with their contact details and any specialist skills that they may have.
“We understand fully why people feel they want to do something practical, to get out there and find April. We want to ensure that we do all that we can to find her, and at the same time do nothing to jeopardise the efforts to locate her.
“We want people to come forward to provide the volunteer search co-ordinators in Machynlleth with their details and what skills and knowledge they possess.”
He also asked the public to search their immediate surroundings including gardens and outbuildings.
Specialist police search teams are being helped by a marine unit, mountain rescue, the coastguard and lifeboat services.
He said the search operation is “one of the largest of its kind in recent history”, and that with police co-ordination, volunteers can be used “in the right place at the right time”.
Superintendent Ian John said that he understood why volunteers wanted to help in the search for April, and asked for people to come forward with their contact details and any specialist skills that they may have.
“We understand fully why people feel they want to do something practical, to get out there and find April. We want to ensure that we do all that we can to find her, and at the same time do nothing to jeopardise the efforts to locate her.
“We want people to come forward to provide the volunteer search co-ordinators in Machynlleth with their details and what skills and knowledge they possess.”
He also asked the public to search their immediate surroundings including gardens and outbuildings.
Specialist police search teams are being helped by a marine unit, mountain rescue, the coastguard and lifeboat services.
He said the search operation is “one of the largest of its kind in recent history”, and that with police co-ordination, volunteers can be used “in the right place at the right time”.
Mr Bevan told reporters there was nothing to connect April's abduction with any other incident.
Dyfed Powys officers were granted more time to question Mr Bridger this morning after making an application to magistrates.
He was arrested on Tuesday walking along the side of the road a couple of miles outside Machynlleth, wearing camouflage-style clothing.
His Land Rover was retrieved from a repair garage in the Old Station Road area of the town.
It had been reported that Bridger was a former soldier, but the Ministry of Defence said today that he had never been a member of the armed forces.
More than 220 police officers have joined the operation to find April, who has cerebral palsy.
Search teams have been combing Powys’s rugged terrain since she was seen being lured into a vehicle on Monday evening.
Detectives are also focusing specific search activity at more than 20 scenes, including a farmhouse where Mr Bridger is believed to have lived recently.
Specialist teams have also been combing the area along the Dyfi river.
Mr Bridger has young daughters who are known to have played with April in the area where she was snatched, near her home on the Bryn-y-Gog estate where she lives with her mother Coral, 40.
The two girls, believed to be aged seven and 10, live less than 200 yards from April’s home.
Both girls have a step-sister who is the same age as April and who also regularly played with her.
April’s mother yesterday begged for help in finding her daughter as she made an emotional public appeal.
Ms Jones sobbed as she said: “There must be someone out there who knows where she is and can help the police find her. We are desperate for any news.
“April is only five years old. Please, please, help find her.”
The family has also launched a pink ribbon campaign to help sustain awareness of the search.
They have asked members of the public to put up pink ribbons on front doors or gates, or to wear them.
