This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/north_east/6072232.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Hunt for driver as girl is found | Hunt for driver as girl is found |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Police are searching for the driver of a white van who snatched a 15-year-old girl from a street. | Police are searching for the driver of a white van who snatched a 15-year-old girl from a street. |
| She went missing in Wrexham on Friday afternoon and was found safe 15 hours later on Saturday morning, about 70 miles away in Bangor, Gwynedd. | She went missing in Wrexham on Friday afternoon and was found safe 15 hours later on Saturday morning, about 70 miles away in Bangor, Gwynedd. |
| Police took the unusual decision to name the driver as Alan Grant, who also uses the name Alan Weston and is from Stockport, Greater Manchester. | Police took the unusual decision to name the driver as Alan Grant, who also uses the name Alan Weston and is from Stockport, Greater Manchester. |
| Officers have now found the LDV van, but warned people not to approach him. | Officers have now found the LDV van, but warned people not to approach him. |
| North Wales Police said the girl was naturally traumatised and receiving medical attention, but "physically fit". | North Wales Police said the girl was naturally traumatised and receiving medical attention, but "physically fit". |
| We had to make the very rare decision to release Alan Grant's name because of our concerns about the safety of the young girl Det Supt Peter Challinor She is being supported by family members and police liaison officers. | We had to make the very rare decision to release Alan Grant's name because of our concerns about the safety of the young girl Det Supt Peter Challinor She is being supported by family members and police liaison officers. |
| Ian Shannon, the assistant chief constable, made a direct appeal to Grant to give himself up either by calling 999 or walking into a police station. | Ian Shannon, the assistant chief constable, made a direct appeal to Grant to give himself up either by calling 999 or walking into a police station. |
| He said police had "good grounds" to believe Grant was still in north-west Wales, and urged anyone who can help to contact police. | He said police had "good grounds" to believe Grant was still in north-west Wales, and urged anyone who can help to contact police. |
| Officers said the girl was snatched near Summerhill Road Wrexham. | |
| Orange beacon | Orange beacon |
| Police were called about 1600 BST on Friday by a member of the public, who said the girl was being forced into the van, registration R474 GNB. | Police were called about 1600 BST on Friday by a member of the public, who said the girl was being forced into the van, registration R474 GNB. |
| Some three hours later the girl was reported missing after she failed to return home. | Some three hours later the girl was reported missing after she failed to return home. |
| She was found safe just before 0700 BST on Saturday in the Bangor area, where the van was also traced about an hour later. The vehicle had an orange beacon on the roof. | She was found safe just before 0700 BST on Saturday in the Bangor area, where the van was also traced about an hour later. The vehicle had an orange beacon on the roof. |
| Det Supt Peter Challinor, who is leading the inquiry, said: "We've had one of the biggest searches this force has ever had. | Det Supt Peter Challinor, who is leading the inquiry, said: "We've had one of the biggest searches this force has ever had. |
| "We've also had assistance from all the north-west forces in this search. We had to make the very rare decision to release Alan Grant's name because of our concerns about the safety of the young girl." | "We've also had assistance from all the north-west forces in this search. We had to make the very rare decision to release Alan Grant's name because of our concerns about the safety of the young girl." |
| He appealed to the public: "If you have seen the panel van - registration number R474 GNB - or a man matching the picture issued of Alan Grant/Weston - do not attempt to approach him but pick up the phone and get in touch with us immediately". | He appealed to the public: "If you have seen the panel van - registration number R474 GNB - or a man matching the picture issued of Alan Grant/Weston - do not attempt to approach him but pick up the phone and get in touch with us immediately". |