Lee Johnston: Police search for missing Coleraine man

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Lee JohnstonImage source, PSNI

Two people arrested following the disappearance of 21-year-old Lee Johnston have been released on bail.

Police are continuing to search for Mr Johnston who has been missing from County Londonderry since Saturday 7 October.

A 31-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man were bailed on Tuesday night to allow for further enquiries.

Police have issued CCTV images of Mr Johnston at a supermarket in Cookstown, County Tyrone.

They show Mr Johnston, who is from Coleraine, at a store on the Orritor Road between 16:52 and 16:59 BST on 7 October.

Police said they were issuing the "photographs of this last sighting in an effort to jog people's memories" and that they were "increasingly concerned" for Mr Johnston's safety.

They have "launched a criminal investigation into his disappearance".

He was first reported missing on the evening of Friday 13 October.

Image source, PSNI
Image caption,

The latest images of Mr Johnston show him going through a checkout at a supermarket

Mr Johnston was also believed to have been in the Mullagh Park area of Maghera earlier on 7 October, at about 16:00 BST, police said.

Supt Michael O'Loan appealed directly to Mr Johnston "to make contact with the police, family or friends so that we know you are safe and well".

Image caption,

Police attended the scene of a property in Maghera on Tuesday

The PSNI said it is out of character for Mr Johnston not to have been in contact with his family since he was last seen.

He has short brown hair, blue eyes and is about 5ft 9ins in height, and was last seen wearing a blue hooded-top and tracksuit bottoms.

Officers have said they are keen to receive any information or footage that could assist in finding Mr Johnston.

At the scene: Catherine Morrison, BBC News NI reporter

A police presence remains at the scene of a property in Maghera, which is at the centre of a criminal investigation into the disappearance of a man.

The house is in a small residential development on the outskirts of Maghera village.

Neighbours tell me it is the upstairs flat that the police operation is focusing on.

Officers appealed to anyone travelling through Mullagh Park between 15:00 and 16:00 BST on 7 October to contact them if they have any information.

They also urged anyone with dash-cam, CCTV or mobile footage to get in touch.