Police are exploring whether a three-year-old boy went missing from his home in Edinburgh after a criminal act.
Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham, of Police Scotland, said it remained possible that Mikaeel Kular had left his family’s flat of his own accord after being put to bed on Wednesday night
“It is, however, entirely possible that Mikaeel has become subject of a criminal act and our investigation has been established as a twin track to ensure that eventuality is being fully explored.”
Earlier yesterday, hundreds of volunteers helped search for the little boy.
“It is of grave concern that Mikaeel has been missing for nearly 48 hours,” continued Mr Graham. “Since he was last seen on Wednesday night by his mum . . . we’ve been unable to confirm any sightings.
“As a result, our operations and our investigations are continuing in tandem.”
Officers have been investigating a “potential sighting” of a child matching Mikaeel’s description and wearing a cap.
Members of the public reported seeing a boy who was “small in build and alone” in West Pilton Gardens at around 8.30am yesterday.
But the police said Mikaeel did not usually like wearing headgear and the child’s identity could not be confirmed.
Mr Graham said: “I again make a plea if anybody out there has information which is going to assist us in better understand the circumstances in which Mikaeel has gone missing, that they make contact with the police.”
Superintendent Liz McAinsh said there had been a “positive response” to the appeal for information in relation to the potential sighting, calls were being followed up and the police would be reporting on outcomes.
She added: “You’ve all seen today the huge public response that we have had to this, and I would like to reiterate the thanks to everybody that has come out in our search for Mikaeel.”
Ms McAinsh said other emergency services, such as the fire service and Coastguard, were also assisting.
She said Mikaeel had not been at nursery since the Christmas break because he had been ill.
All immediate family members had been traced and spoken to by police.
Mr Graham said: “It has been extremely helpful to understand all the circumstances that have led up to his disappearance.
“There is a timeline going back to when he has been seen by different people, but I am not able to go into the detail of that at the moment.
“I think everyone can get a sense of the urgency and scale of the resource that Police Scotland is able to put towards establishing the circumstances.”
Throughout the day, volunteers stood shoulder to shoulder to scour the foreshore at nearby Cramond. Those taking part ranged from firefighters to mothers wheeling prams.
Investigations around the family home in Ferry Gait Crescent are continuing.
Several communal bin areas were cordoned off yesterday afternoon and four forensic officers in white suits and masks were seen entering the family home.
Officers said earlier that they had spoken to Mikaeel’s father and all of the boy’s relatives were said to have been very helpful.
The youngster’s mother has been named locally as Rosdeep Kular, 33.
She is said to be getting support from police, her family and friends, but is “very distraught”.
Police detained a man on Thursday but said it was unconnected with the boy’s disappearance.
A newspaper reported that the detained man lived at the same address as Ms Kular’s first husband.
Police have activated the UK-wide Child Rescue Alert system.