Libby Squire: Abduction arrest over missing University of Hull student

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Libby SquireImage source, Squire family
Image caption,

Libby Squire - whose full name is Liberty Anna - is a student at the University of Hull

A man has been arrested on suspicion of abducting student Libby Squire, who went missing a week ago.

University of Hull student Ms Squire, 21, was last seen in the Beverley Road area of the city after a night out.

Humberside Police said a 24-year-old man was arrested at an address in Raglan Street in Hull on Wednesday night.

"We have not yet found Libby and doing so remains our top priority," the force added.

The man is in custody and assisting police with their inquiries.

Ms Squire's parents have been informed of the arrest and are being supported by officers "at this difficult time", police said.

Police car down a residential street with terraced houses
Image caption,

A man was arrested in Raglan Street, Hull, which is less than a mile from Libby Squire's student house

Detectives believe Ms Squire - whose full name is Liberty Anna - got a taxi at The Welly nightclub last Thursday before arriving at her student house at about 23:30 GMT, where her mobile phone was found.

But the philosophy student did not enter the house and her phone "has not provided any further insight as to where she may be or her movements that night", the force said.

Ms Squire, from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, was spotted on CCTV 10 minutes later near a bench on Beverley Road, by the junction with Haworth Street, where it is believed a motorist stopped to offer her help.

She is thought to have been in the area for about 30 minutes.

Police said both the taxi driver and motorist were "not suspects".

Map of Libby Squire's last movements
Silver car being towedImage source, Hull Daily Mail/MEN Media
Image caption,

A neighbour said they saw a silver car, pictured here, being towed away by officers

Det Supt Matt Hutchinson said a car on Raglan Street had been recovered by officers and it "is currently forming just one part of our investigation".

He said they were "still treating Libby's disappearance as a missing person's inquiry" and were keeping an open mind while they worked "around the clock".

John Garrity, a neighbour, said he received a knock on the door by police officers who were "seeking access to the back of the garden" of the house where the man was arrested.

"They wanted to block off any escape route," he said. "About 22:00 they removed his Astra."

Police office and car
Image caption,

Officers are searching a park close to where Libby Squire was last seen

Police are currently searching a wooded area near a pond in Oak Road Playing Fields, close to where Ms Squire was last seen. A police helicopter has been seen hovering above the park.

Officers plan to drive an 11 sq m mobile billboard around the area and leaflets will be handed out later in a bid to "gather more information".

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Ms Squire's mother Lisa has thanked everyone who helped in the search, saying the family had been "overwhelmed with people's kindness and support".

Her parents met and spoke with Ms Squire's friends, other students, lecturers and staff at an event at the university on Tuesday night, "which saw hundreds of people turn out to show their support", police said.

Officers wading through waist-deep pond waterImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Officers have waded through waist-deep pond water in the hunt for Ms Squire

Her family previously said Ms Squire's disappearance was "very out of character" and they were "broken without her".

Ms Squire, who is 5ft 7in tall and has long dark brown hair, was wearing a black leather jacket, black long-sleeved top and a black denim skirt with lace when she was last seen.

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