Twelve arrested in missing man murder inquiry

Police have arrested 12 people as officers investigate the murder of a man who has not been seen for nearly two years.

Leicestershire Police made the arrests on Tuesday in connection with the disappearance of a man in his 60s, who was last seen in April 2024.

The force, which has not named the man, said its inquiries determined there had been "no proof of life" since.

Eight men - 21, 23, 25, 25, 33, 34, 43 and 61 - and three women - 23, 29 and 34 - have been arrested on suspicion of murder, while a ninth man, 50, was detained on suspicion of assisting an offender.

The arrests follow police activity in Broad Avenue in Evington on Tuesday morning as part of "planned enforcement" at an address.

Det Insp Michael Chandler said police activity at the address would continue over the "coming days and weeks" and include digging into the ground at the property.

"This police activity is very much to help us in determining what has happened.

"There is nothing to suggest that the wider community is at risk, and our efforts in finding information is very much focused at this time on the address in Broad Avenue," he added.

Two cars parked at the house were seen being towed away on Tuesday afternoon with officers also removing various items from the property, including a suitcase.

The force said there would also be police activity at two other addresses in Gwendolen Road and Falmouth Road, in Evington, in connection with the investigation.

Chandler urged anyone with information that they believed could help the investigation to contact the force.

"We would also ask our communities to avoid the sharing of misinformation and speculation and to only share information which is known to be true," he said.

"This investigation is not a counter-terrorism investigation, and there is no evidence of a link to counter-terrorism," a force spokesperson added.

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