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| Girl, five, goes missing in mid-Wales | Girl, five, goes missing in mid-Wales |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Police are searching for a missing five-year-old girl who they suspect was abducted while playing near her home in Wales. | Police are searching for a missing five-year-old girl who they suspect was abducted while playing near her home in Wales. |
| April Jones was last seen getting into a light-coloured van that drove off in the mid-Wales town of Machynlleth on Monday evening. | April Jones was last seen getting into a light-coloured van that drove off in the mid-Wales town of Machynlleth on Monday evening. |
| Dyfed-Powys police said they were becoming "increasingly concerned" for the missing child's safety and have deployed a large number of officers and specialist teams to investigate the disappearance. | Dyfed-Powys police said they were becoming "increasingly concerned" for the missing child's safety and have deployed a large number of officers and specialist teams to investigate the disappearance. |
| Hundreds of local residents in the small market town were said to have joined the hunt for April on Monday with many continuing their efforts overnight. | Hundreds of local residents in the small market town were said to have joined the hunt for April on Monday with many continuing their efforts overnight. |
| Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Powell said police were following a number of lines of inquiry. | Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Powell said police were following a number of lines of inquiry. |
| He said: "Dyfed-Powys police have launched an intensive search and criminal investigation into the abduction of a five-year-old girl, April Jones, in Machynlleth. | He said: "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." | "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." |
| He continued: "We are obviously becoming increasing concerned for her safety and are asking for any one with information to please contact us on 101." | He continued: "We are obviously becoming increasing concerned for her safety and are asking for any one with information to please contact us on 101." |
| Up to 200 people congregated at Machynlleth Leisure Centre as news of the apparent abduction broke to help in the search for the missing girl, according to reports. | Up to 200 people congregated at Machynlleth Leisure Centre as news of the apparent abduction broke to help in the search for the missing girl, according to reports. |
| Police said April had been out in the town riding a bike with a friend before she vanished. | Police said April had been out in the town riding a bike with a friend before she vanished. |
| Local restaurant owner Razul Islam said a large majority of the town, which has a population of 2,000, was out searching for the five-year-old. | Local restaurant owner Razul Islam said a large majority of the town, which has a population of 2,000, was out searching for the five-year-old. |
| "There are hundreds of people out looking for her," Islam told Sky News. | "There are hundreds of people out looking for her," Islam told Sky News. |
| "It is such a small town and nearly everyone is out looking for her – I'm shocked that it has happened in a town like this." | "It is such a small town and nearly everyone is out looking for her – I'm shocked that it has happened in a town like this." |
| Petrol station owner Nerys Zjalic said she reopened her garage on Monday night to help with the search. | Petrol station owner Nerys Zjalic said she reopened her garage on Monday night to help with the search. |
| Zjalic, who runs Reads Garage, told ITV Wales: "My friend called to ask if we would open so people can get petrol to help in the search. Locals are out in full force searching for her." | Zjalic, who runs Reads Garage, told ITV Wales: "My friend called to ask if we would open so people can get petrol to help in the search. Locals are out in full force searching for her." |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she said some people had returned home overnight, but were planning to reconvene their search at 6.30am. | Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she said some people had returned home overnight, but were planning to reconvene their search at 6.30am. |
| "It just shows the community spirit of the town and how people get together in a crisis to do anything they can to help," she added. | "It just shows the community spirit of the town and how people get together in a crisis to do anything they can to help," she added. |
| Zjalic, who knows the missing girl's family, said people had been coming from far and wide to help with the search. | Zjalic, who knows the missing girl's family, said people had been coming from far and wide to help with the search. |
| "It's unbelievable – you just don't think that something like that would happen in a small town like Machynlleth. | "It's unbelievable – you just don't think that something like that would happen in a small town like Machynlleth. |
| "Nothing will be the same again - this is a small little market town and you think children are quite safe but this shows us it's not the case. | "Nothing will be the same again - this is a small little market town and you think children are quite safe but this shows us it's not the case. |
| "People just can't believe such a thing has happened, the whole town is devastated and in shock." | "People just can't believe such a thing has happened, the whole town is devastated and in shock." |
| Police released three pictures of April and urged anyone with information about the youngster's disappearance to come forward. | Police released three pictures of April and urged anyone with information about the youngster's disappearance to come forward. |
| Locals have also put up posters of April around the town as part of their search efforts. | Locals have also put up posters of April around the town as part of their search efforts. |
| Chris Dudley, who works at the Skinners Arms on Penrallt Street, said the pub was empty last night with many of the locals joining the search. | Chris Dudley, who works at the Skinners Arms on Penrallt Street, said the pub was empty last night with many of the locals joining the search. |
| "All the locals are looking for her in this area – the cemeteries, the golf field, playing field, everywhere you can think of," he said. "Police are still looking." | "All the locals are looking for her in this area – the cemeteries, the golf field, playing field, everywhere you can think of," he said. "Police are still looking." |
| Dudley said police officers were "everywhere" and they were also searching cars. | Dudley said police officers were "everywhere" and they were also searching cars. |
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