Mikaeel Kular search: New image of missing boy released

The new image shows Mikaeel in the jacket he was thought to have been wearing when he went missing

Police have released a new image of a three-year-old boy who has gone missing in Edinburgh.

The image shows Mikaeel Kular in the jacket he was believed to be wearing when he disappeared.

Concern is mounting for Mikaeel, who was last seen going to bed in his home in Ferry Gait Crescent at about 21:00 on Wednesday.

He was not in the flat when his family woke on Thursday morning. There have been no sightings of him since then.

The national Child Rescue Alert system has been activated, with calls to its 0300 200 0200 number answered by dedicated members of staff.

Police said they are seeking information from anyone who has seen Mikaeel or anyone matching his description since Wednesday night.

They said there was no evidence to suggest criminality at the moment, but officers were "keeping an open mind."

Mikaeel is 3ft tall and was possibly wearing a beige hooded jacket with grey fur-lined hood.

He may also have had on black gloves with multi-coloured fingers, dark navy blue jogging bottoms, a grey pyjama top featuring an embroidered turquoise dinosaur on the chest and brown Clark shoes with two Velcro straps.

He has a faded scar on the bridge of his nose and a sore on the left side of his mouth.

Supt Liz McAinsh of Police Scotland said on Thursday evening: "Our enquiries to trace Mikaeel have been ongoing for over 12 hours now and so far, we have still to receive that vital piece of information that will lead to his discovery.

"I would like to thank the local community for their continued support and assistance during the search, and I also wish to thank those who have already called our dedicated number with information.

"All information received is being quickly progressed by our officers and I'd like to urge anyone who thinks they may know where Mikaeel is be to get in touch if they haven't done so already.

"This new image shows the jacket we believe Mikaeel was wearing when he disappeared.

"Local residents and those who travel through the Drylaw area on a daily basis are urged to be vigilant for a young child matching Mikaeel's description who may be wearing a jacket like this.

"Anyone who has information that can help us trace Mikaeel and bring him home is asked to contact police immediately."

At an earlier media briefing, Supt McAinsh said the focus of the police operation remained in the local area, and officers were working to narrow down the timescale in which Mikaeel went missing.

Mikaeel Kular was last seen going to bed on Wednesday evening

She confirmed there had been no sightings of the missing boy, and no signs of a door being left open in the property.

She was not aware of anyone else having access to the flat, she said.

A number of people were helping officers with their inquiries, the officer said, but there were no suspects, and had been no arrests or formal detentions.

She added: "I would stress at the moment we have no indication at all of any criminality. It remains a missing person inquiry.

"I would ask people in the locality please continue searching in your own personal property.

"If your neighbours are away, then think about searching their gardens, their sheds, common stairs, wheely bins."

Mikaeel, who is British with Asian parents, was at home with his mother and four siblings, including his twin sister, on Wednesday night.

Officers are speaking to "all family members" about the disappearance, including Mikaeel's father, who is understood to be of Pakistani origin.

Coastguard teams and lifeboats have been searching the shoreline in the Cramond and Drylaw area, and the Police Scotland helicopter has been involved.

Supt McAinsh said: "We've spoken to all key members of the family. We've been in contact with them and they are assisting us with our inquiries.

"We have no suspects because we have no evidence of any criminality.

"We haven't had any sightings of Mikaeel and that obviously causes us concern."

Supt McAinsh was asked by reporters if it would have been possible for a three-year-old boy to have got out of his home on his own.

"I have been assured that it is possible," she said. "I would suggest also that anything's possible.

"Three-year-old children are quite resilient and they have quite a great deal of strength and ability to open doors and I'm assured that Mikaeel is capable of doing that."

Supt McAinsh said: "He would normally share a bedroom with his twin sister but my understanding is that he was sleeping in the bedroom alone last night."