Libby Squire: Police given more time to question man as search goes on
Written by News on 10/02/2019
Police searching for missing student Libby Squire in Hull have been granted more time to question a 24-year-old man.
The 21-year-old has been missing for more than a week and an intensive search has been mounted by police and volunteers since then.
On Wednesday night they arrested a man on suspicion of abduction and on Friday were granted a further 36 hours to question him.
That time was due to run out at 9pm on Saturday but police announced they have been granted more time.
A statement released by Humberside Police said: “A further extension has been granted by the courts for officers to question a man arrested in connection with the disappearance of Hull student Libby Squire.”
The extension allows officers to keep questioning the man until 9pm on Sunday.
Detective Superintendent Mathew Hutchinson said: “We are still treating Libby’s disappearance as a missing person’s enquiry. I have said previously that we are keeping an open mind as to her whereabouts and that is still very much the case.
“Our number one priority is to find Libby Squire and we are still conducting extensive searches and appealing for any information from the public.”
Police have thanked the people of Hull for helping them in the massive search for Libby.
Sharing a picture of a large screen featuring University of Hull student Miss Squire’s face on a poster, Humberside Police tweeted: “If you’re out shopping today in Hull city centre you’ll see these.
“You know we’ve been out searching for Libby Squire every day for the last week and thanks for your help. We have all come together. Thanks for letting us do our jobs as well.”
On Saturday officers scoured gardens and alleyways in the area and the digital missing persons posters were unveiled in the city.
It is believed police are examining CCTV footage which shows a man getting in and out of a car minutes after the last sighting of Ms Squire.
The footage appears to show a man sitting with his legs out of the driver’s side door of a parked vehicle in Hull.
He leaves the car, and a minute-and-a-half later a man is seen opening the front passenger side door and moving around before getting behind the wheel and driving away.
Detectives say Miss Squire was dropped off in a taxi near her home on Wellesley Avenue at 11.29pm on Thursday 31 January.
She was seen 10 minutes later on CCTV near a bench on Beverley Road, where a motorist stopped to offer help.
The taxi driver and motorist have been spoken to by police but are not suspects.
Ms Squire’s parents Lisa and Russ, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, put out a statement during the week thanking people for their support in trying to find their daughter.
Humberside Police said in a statement on Friday that the force is “still very much treating her disappearance as a missing person’s inquiry”.
A spokesman also thanked more than 50 volunteers who helped officers searching on Thursday night.
A JustGiving page set up on Thursday to help Libby’s family has raised more than £3,000.
Craig Hopkins, who set up the page, wrote: “Libby’s parents obviously have a tremendous amount to deal with at this time and the last additional problem they need is any financial concerns, especially as their daughter is a student in Hull, which is a considerable distance from the family home in Buckinghamshire.
“Even if you can only spare a few pounds, please do so, as all money raised will be sent to Libby’s parents to assist them financially at this emotionally challenging time.”
(c) Sky News 2019: Libby Squire: Police given more time to question man as search goes on
