Footage of cyclists on the Grand Union Canal towpath just before missing 14-year-old Alice Gross walks past at 4.23pm on Thursday August 28, have been released by investigators.
Officers believe the footage shows a group of three cyclists passing the Trumpers Way Canal Bridge in Hanwell. Moments later two further cyclists pass under the canal bridge. Officers have yet to identify any of these cyclists.
Detectives need to identify all five cyclists pictured (below) and are urging them to get in contact at the first available opportunity.
The investigation team have viewed hundreds of hours of CCTV and extensive searches have been completed using local officers as well as specialist units from across the MPS.
Alice was last seen by her family at 1pm on Thursday August 28 when she left her home address in Hanwell. She told her family she would be home that evening, but she did not return. She was seen on CCTV at 2.23pm walking alone on the Grand Union Canal towpath heading in the direction of Kew. Alice was later seen at the same point along the tow path at 3.45pm heading in the direction of Hanwell.
Alice is white, 5ft 2ins tall and of very slim build with shoulder-length, light brown hair. When last seen, she was wearing dark blue jeans and a dark green lacy cardigan. She was carrying a dark rucksack and may have been wearing denim blue 'Vans' shoes and tartan-framed spectacles.
Anyone who has seen Alice or has information that may assist the investigation should call the Incident Room on 020 8358 0100.
Police arrested a man aged 25 in Ealing on Saturday on suspicion of murder, and a second man aged 51 in Hanwell yesterday, also on suspicion of murder, though they stress this continues to be a missing persons investigation.
A spokesman said: "There is no information at this stage to suggest that anything untoward may have happened to Alice but detectives retain an open mind and consideration has been given to the fact that she may have become a victim of crime. This is only one line of enquiry but detectives stress that with the HMCC now providing additional resources and expertise to locate Alice they hope to return her home safe and well."
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command added: "I would urge everyone to taken a good look at the pictures released today to see if it jogs any memories of the day Alice went missing. If you are one of the cyclists pictured then please call the investigation team immediately because we need to find Alice.
"I would like to directly appeal to anyone who has any information to come forward and speak to us. The information you hold no matter how small may just be the vital piece of information we require."
Whilst the CCTV is taken from some distance the following is the descriptions of those we wish to identify. It is unclear what gender or age the cyclists are.
First group of cyclists
- Cyclist one - The cyclist is wearing a light coloured / white top, light blue trousers, and possibly a light coloured cycling helmet. By the riders posture it appears to be a mountain bike, but no colour or description.
- Cyclist two - Cyclist is wearing light coloured top, light coloured trousers or shorts, with light and dark coloured shoes. The riders posture is more upright and could be a female's bicycle.
- Cyclist three - The cyclist is wearing a dark short sleeve top, dark shorts, light and dark shoes. The rider's posture suggests this could be a mountain bike, but no colour or description.
Second group of cyclists
- Cyclist four - wearing a very dark top and dark trousers. The rider's posture suggests this could be a mountain bike.
- Cyclist five - wearing a grey hooded top with hood up, dark trousers. The rider's posture suggests this could be a mountain bike.
