1993: Missing two-year-old found dead
Police have confirmed a body found on a railway embankment in Merseyside is that of missing toddler James Bulger.
A murder inquiry has been launched. His injuries were described as "horrific" by Merseyside police.
Detectives are now trying to establish if the two-year-old had been killed before being taken to the railway or died as a result of being tied to the tracks.
The site where the body was found is less than three miles from the Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle where he disappeared during a shopping trip with his mother on Friday.
|
 |
Surveillance cameras show the toddler being led away by two boys thought to be between the ages of 10 and 14. Detectives are appealing to them to come forward to help with inquiries.
Detective Chief Inspector Geoff MacDonald, leading the inquiry, said: "It may well be that these two boys took James away innocently and the events have overtaken them and they are now frightened to come forward."
Experts are currently enhancing images taken from the CCTV footage to get a clearer picture of the two boys.
Parents have been warned to keep a close eye on their children.
"Until the person is caught, parents must keep hold of their children because until we know what happened, who is responsible, we cannot guarantee their safety," said detectives.
James' grandmother, Helen Bulger, described the family's disbelief at what had happened. "It's like a dream," she said. "You see these cases and you feel very sorry for the people involved but you don't know, there's no way you could know the depth of feeling involved."
"He was a lovely little boy. He was so beautiful," she added.
Home
Canon Anthony Hawley on how a community coped with tragedy
Reports on the aftermath of James Bulger's murder