An announcement will be made 'as soon as possible' on whether a body recovered from the River Brent last night is missing teenager Alice Gross, say police.
They are awaiting formal identification and the results of a post mortem before commenting further, reporters are being told.
Alice's family have been informed of the discovery and missing posters have begun to be removed from around Alice's home town, Hanwell, but yellow ribbons - the community's symbol of solidarity with Alice's family - are remaining in place.
Brentside High School pupil Alice, 14, disappeared on August 28 after walking along the Grand Union Canal. Latvian builder Arnis Zalkans, the prime suspect in the case, was recorded by CCTV using the same stretch of path and himself went missing nearly a week later on September 3.
Police discovered a body in the River Brent last night (September 30) and said "significant efforts" had been made to conceal it. Consequently the search for Alice has been reclassified as a murder inquiry.
Ealing Gazette reporter Camilla Horrox is at the River Brent today. She said: "There is currently a big police cordon on both sides of the canal, and a large gathering of press and TV. We have just seen a number of forensic officers approach the scene.
"This is not a remote area like Trumpers Way, where Alice was last seen. There are lots of cottages here and a local pub. It is a residential area and quite picturesque. It's a peculiar spot to try to conceal a body."
