Arrests made as missing girl found in south Bristol

The McDonald's where the young girl was last seen before she went missing.
The girl was last seen at the McDonald's in Bedminster. Credit: Google

Two people have been arrested after the disappearance of an eight-year-old girl.

The man and woman have been arrested on suspicion of child abduction after the girl went missing in Bristol on Wednesday 16 December. She was last seen at the McDonald's in Bedminster.

She was found safe and well in Bristol on the morning of Thursday 17 December following a police appeal to trace her.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary said the girl is now in the care of specialist police officers who are working closely with other agencies to support her and her family.

 Detective Superintendent Lisa Simpson said: "Members of the community and the media who shared our appeal this morning have undoubtedly played a big part in finding this little girl so quickly. I want to share my thanks on behalf of the investigative team and the family.

"This is an incredibly unusual incident which understandably has caused significant distress and we're treating it with the seriousness and sensitivity you would expect. The circumstances are now part of an ongoing investigation, however I want to reassure people that we have no evidence to suggest any wider child safety issue in south Bristol.

"I would urge anyone with information which could help our investigation to call 101 quoting reference 5220282127. I'd also encourage people to consider the welfare of this young girl and not to speculate on the circumstances on social media. Such speculation may also have the potential to affect our live enquiry."


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