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Ben Needham: 'police to excavate land on Kos where toddler went missing' Ben Needham: police to excavate land on Kos where toddler went missing
(35 minutes later)
A team of British police search experts are to begin digging for the possible remains of Ben Needham, the toddler who disappeared on the Greek island of Kos more than 20 years ago, according to reports.A team of British police search experts are to begin digging for the possible remains of Ben Needham, the toddler who disappeared on the Greek island of Kos more than 20 years ago, according to reports.
Specialists from a series of police forces plan to excavate a mound of rubble near the home where the family was living when Ben, then aged 21 months, vanished in July 1991, the Mirror said. Specialists from a series of police forces plan to excavate a mound of rubble near the home where the family lived when Ben, then aged 21 months, vanished in July 1991, the Mirror said.
The search is being led by South Yorkshire police, which has been supporting Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, in her hunt to discover what happened to her son. They are investigating the possibility that Ben was accidentally buried by a digger driver dumping rubble in a field adjoining his grandparents' home. The search is being led by South Yorkshire police, which has been supporting Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, in her quest to discover what happened to her son. They are investigating the possibility that Ben was accidentally buried by a digger driver dumping rubble in a field adjoining his grandparents' home.
Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick from the South Yorkshire force told the Mirror: "One of the lines of inquiry is that we want to clear the ground from where Ben originally went missing, to if you like, finalise that as a line of inquiry. Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick from the South Yorkshire force told the Mirror: "One of the lines of inquiry is that we want to clear the ground from where Ben originally went missing to, if you like, finalise that as a line of inquiry.
"I'm taking over some search experts with expertise in looking at ground work, to establish the possibility that some remains could be there. From the Greek authority perspective they're also providing a level of expertise and they will be working very closely with us and providing a large number of staff who can assist in the search. "I'm taking over some search experts with expertise in looking at ground work, to establish the possibility that some remains could be there. From the Greek authority perspective, they're also providing a level of expertise and they will be working very closely with us and providing a large number of staff who can assist in the search.
"There are multiple lines of inquiry at the moment that are certainly possibilities as to what's happened to Ben, but this is just one line of inquiry that, by the work that we propose, should finalise that, to the best we can.""There are multiple lines of inquiry at the moment that are certainly possibilities as to what's happened to Ben, but this is just one line of inquiry that, by the work that we propose, should finalise that, to the best we can."
Ben's disappearance made headlines for a number of years, much like the later case of Madeleine McCann, who vanished from her parents' holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007. He was being cared for by his grandparents at their farmhouse in Kos while Kerry Needham worked at a nearby hotel. He disappeared after being out of view for only a few minutes. Ben's disappearance made headlines for a number of years, much like the later case of Madeleine McCann, who vanished from her parents' holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007. He was being cared for by his grandparents at their farmhouse in Kos while his mother worked at a nearby hotel. He disappeared after being out of view for only a few minutes.
It was long theorised that Ben might have been kidnapped, and there was a spate of subsequent sightings of blond children of about his age around Greece, all of which turned out to be false leads.It was long theorised that Ben might have been kidnapped, and there was a spate of subsequent sightings of blond children of about his age around Greece, all of which turned out to be false leads.
Kerry Needham told the Mirror she remained convinced her son was alive, saying: This is an elimination process, and that's how I'm dealing with it. It's one of the most important things to happen in 21 years." Kerry Needham told the Mirror she remains convinced her son is alive, saying: "This is an elimination process, and that's how I'm dealing with it. It's one of the most important things to happen in 21 years."
The search will involve dogs trained to sniff out human remains, sonar and 3D imaging equipment. According to the Mirror Greek authorities have allowed the British police to seal off the land and treat is as a potential crime scene. The search will involve dogs trained to sniff out human remains, sonar and 3D imaging equipment. According to the Mirror, Greek authorities have allowed the British police to seal off the land and treat it as a potential crime scene.