Leicester river searched in Malgorzata Wnuczek inquiry

Malgorzata Wnuczek was last seen in Leicester on 31 May 2006

Police are searching a river as part of a renewed investigation into the disappearance of a woman who went missing more than 17 years ago.

Malgorzata Wnuczek was last seen catching a bus from her job at Peter Jackson Logistics in Sunningdale Road, Leicester, on 31 May 2006.

Despite numerous appeals, her whereabouts remain unknown.

The search in Leicester on Tuesday coincided with a man being arrested in connection with the case.

Police said specialist teams were searching the River Soar, around Mill Lane bridge.

Police believe people within Leicester's Polish community know what happened to Ms Wnuczek

The last contact Ms Wnuczek, known by her family as Gosia, had with her loved ones was via text message on 29 May 2006, Leicestershire Police said.

The force is continuing to work with police from Ms Wnuczek's native Poland, and believe people within Leicester's Polish community know what happened to her.

A 39-year-old man was arrested in the Wythenshawe area of Greater Manchester area on Tuesday morning on suspicion of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.

'Lived in darkness'

Det Insp Jenni Higgs said: "Malgorzata was 27 when she was last seen. Two days ago it was her 44th birthday.

"Following information provided to us by our Polish colleagues, we are carrying out a search of the River Soar in the hope we might find something that can help us to establish Malgorzata's whereabouts.

"Since the investigation began, more than 2,000 potential witnesses have raised more than 2,500 lines of inquiry, with more than 100 statements taken. But we still do not know where Malgorzata is or what might have happened to her.

"However, I firmly believe there are people out there who do. For more than 17 years, her family have lived their lives in darkness and we owe it to them to answer the questions they have."