Georgia Williams hunt: man held on suspicion of kidnap
Police have arrested a man on suspicion of kidnap, as they continue to search for 17-year-old Georgia Williams, who went missing on Sunday.
Georgia Williams has not been seen since leaving her home in Wellington, Shropshire, at around 7.30pm.
Detectives believe she was in the company of a local 22-year-old man who was arrested this morning in Glasgow.
A silver Toyota van allegedly driven by the suspect was tracked from Wellington to Oswestry in Shropshire before travelling to Rhyll, Chester, Cumbria and then on to Glasgow.
West Mercia Police appealed to the teenager to get in touch.
Superintendent Nav Malik said: “I’d like to make a direct appeal to Georgia to get in touch with us.
“If you hear these appeals, please contact us. You are not in any trouble, we simply wish to make sure you are safe and well.”
Urgent missing person appeal: can you help us find #Wellington, #Telford teenager Georgia Williams: ow.ly/luJT2 Please RT
— West Mercia Police (@wmerciapolice) May 29, 2013
Mr Malik also requested the public’s help.
He said: “A police operation has led to the arrest of a man in Glasgow but we have so far not been able to locate Georgia.
“We are keen to hear from anyone who has seen Georgia since Sunday afternoon, or has any information about her whereabouts or movements over the past few days.
“I also want to know about the movements of a silver Toyota Hiace 300 GS van, registration number CX06 ASV, which we know the arrested man was driving.
“I am concerned for Georgia’s welfare and am asking for the public’s help to try and locate her.”
We are keen to hear from anyone who has seen Georgia since Sunday afternoon, or has any information about her whereabouts or movements over the past few days – Superintendent Nav Malik
Mr Malik said the man currently in custody was “a friend” of Georgia’s but added he was not her boyfriend.
She had been due to attend a music concert with her boyfriend this week, and she also missed her first driving lesson said Mr Malik.
Georgia was reported missing by her parents yesterday after it became clear she had not been in contact with any of her friends.
Detectives are now trying to piece together the movements of the Toyota van the arrested man had access to, which was seized at the same time as his arrest at a budget hotel in Glasgow city centre.
Mr Malik added: “We believe it may have stopped at a truck stop on the way”.
He added it was believed the van belonged to a family member of the arrested man.
Mr Malik said police were not yet able to determine whether Georgia was in the van, or not.
“We’ve got the van and it is being forensically examined,” he added.
[Police are appealing for anyone with information about a silver Toyota Hiace 300 GS van to contact them]
Mr Malik also confirmed Georgia’s father is a serving West Mercia Police detective constable, based at Telford.
He added Georgia’s family, including her two sisters, were “very upset”.
“It is a difficult time for them,” he said.
“Her father is a police officer but that’s not taking away from the investigation – we are looking to trace her.”
He also revealed detectives working on the investigation were trying to trace Georgia’s mobile phone, which she had when she left home.
“She definitely left home with the phone – we’re trying to find it,” said Supt Malik.
“We know she was sending texts up until 8pm, about half an hour after she was last physically seen.
“There was a combination of texts and calls, but I cannot say what about.”
Georgia is described as white, 5ft 3in, and slim with red hair.
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Mercia Police on 101 or 0300 333 3000