Detectives have been granted extra time to question a man who was arrested on suspicion of abducting student Libby Squire.
Libby, 21, has not been seen since January 31st. The University of Hull student went missing after a night out in the city. On Wednesday a 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of abducting her. The man was arrested at a house in Raglan Street which is less than a mile from Libby’s home, where she was last seen. Her family say her disappearance is “very out of character”.
Humberside Police said it was “still treating Libby’s disappearance as a missing person’s inquiry”.
Libby Squire// family photo
Det Supt Matt Hutchinson said the force was granted a further 36 hours to question the arrested man from 09:11 GMT.
Detectives believe that Libby – Liberty Anna – went home in a taxi at 23:30 but did not enter her house. Her mobile phone was found in the house but “has not provided any further insight as to where she may be or her movements that night”, the force said. A motorist did help Libby on the night she went missing however, the taxi driver and motorist were “not suspects”.
Officers are continuing to search Oak Roads Playing Fields, close to where she was last seen. Miss Squire, who is 5ft 7in tall and has long dark brown hair, had been wearing a black leather jacket, black long-sleeved top and a black denim skirt with lace.
Timeline of events:
- 31 January: Libby Squire is believed to have been dropped off in a taxi from The Welly nightclub to her student home on Wellesley Avenue at about 23:30. She did not enter the house but her phone was found there. She was spotted on CCTV 10 minutes later near a bench on Beverley Road, by the junction with Haworth Street, where a motorist stopped to offer her help
- 1 February: The philosophy student is believed to have remained in the area until about 00:09. She is later reported missing and officers begin a search
- 4 February: Her parents make an emotional video appeal urging their daughter to “get in touch”
- 5 February: About 200 students and staff gather in the rain at the University of Hull to show solidarity and support for Ms Squire, her family and friends
- 6 February: A 24-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of abduction
- 7 February: A large screen displaying images of the student is driven around parts of Hull and officers hand out leaflets in the area where Ms Squire was last seen
- 8 February: Humberside Police is granted more time to question the arrested man
Police did take interest in an abandoned building and bagged up potential evidence and were taking photographs. A forensic officer was seen working around the building, next to Oak Road playing fields
A silver car was towed away and is the car of the man who was arrested. Det Supt Matt Hutchinson said a car had been recovered by officers and it “is currently forming just one part of our investigation”.
