Alice Gross Police Arrest Second Man On Suspicion Of Murder Of Missing 14-Year-Old

Second Man Arrested Over Murder Of Missing Alice
|

UPDATE: The 51-year-old arrested on suspicion of murder on 8 September has been released without charge

A second man is being questioned over the murder of missing schoolgirl Alice Gross.

The 51-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon in the schoolgirl's home area of Hanwell, west London, on suspicion of her murder.

Police have stressed that the man has no connection to another man was arrested on Saturday, who is 25.

Despite the arrests, police are stressing the disappearance of the 14-year-old remains a missing persons inquiry.

The development comes as officers expanded the area they are searching in their hunt for clues as to what happened to Alice.

Open Image Modal

Alice went missing 12 days ago

The 25-year-old man arrested on Saturday is being questioned about the same offence, but officers have stressed the two men are "independent" of each other.

The pair remain in custody at a west London police station, Scotland Yard said.

Alice, who suffers from anorexia, went missing 12 days ago after she left her home in Hanwell in the afternoon, but failed to return.

She was last seen by her family at 1pm on August 28, and was captured on CCTV at 4.23pm that day walking along the Grand Union Canal near her home in Hanwell.

Specialist police divers in black wetsuits and breathing apparatus have been combing the west London waterway where she was last spotted.

Sniffer dog handlers with a golden Labrador have taken to the canal on a red dinghy boat to scan it for evidence.

Police swooped on the man in Ealing, west London, on Saturday afternoon after receiving new information following a fresh witness appeal.

Alice Gross
(01 of44)
Open Image Modal
Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Alice Gross, as the search for Alice is now a murder inquiry, a Metropolitan Police commander said after a body was found in the River Brent, West London. (credit:Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)
(02 of44)
Open Image Modal
Undated handout file photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of Arnis Zalkalns. The hunt goes on for missing schoolgirl Alice Gross after police completed a search at a second property linked to the prime suspect in her disappearance. (credit:Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)
(03 of44)
Open Image Modal
File photo dated 07/09/14 of police divers search the River Brent, near Hanwell, in west London, near to where missing schoolgirl Alice Gross, 14, was last seen, as the search for Alice Gross is now a murder inquiry, a Metropolitan Police commander said today after a body was found in the River Brent, West London. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(04 of44)
Open Image Modal
A policeman looks at an Alice Gross missing poster on the towpath by the River Brent in Hanwell, west London, after the Alice Gross investigation became a murder inquiry. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(05 of44)
Open Image Modal
Police on the towpath by the River Brent in Hanwell, west London, after the Alice Gross investigation became a murder inquiry. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(06 of44)
Open Image Modal
Police on the towpath by the River Brent in Hanwell, west London, after the Alice Gross investigation became a murder inquiry. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(07 of44)
Open Image Modal
Police in Green Lane, Hanwell, west London, after the Alice Gross investigation became a murder inquiry. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(08 of44)
Open Image Modal
Police on the towpath by the River Brent in Hanwell, west London, after the Alice Gross investigation became a murder inquiry. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(09 of44)
Open Image Modal
Undated handout photo issued bny Metropolitan Police of 14-year-old girl Alice Gross, from Hanwell west London. Police hunting for the missing schoolgirl have arrested a man on suspicion of murder, Scotland Yard said tonight. (credit:Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)
(10 of44)
Open Image Modal
Metropolitan Police and a Dyfed Powys Police dog unit search a lake in Osterley Park, west London for missing Alice Gross. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(11 of44)
Open Image Modal
Specialists from the London Fire Brigade Urban Search and Rescue team clear the bank of the river Brent in Hanwell, west London searching for missing Alice Gross. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(12 of44)
Open Image Modal
Specialists from the London Fire Brigade Urban Search and Rescue team clear the bank of the river Brent in Hanwell, west London searching for missing Alice Gross. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(13 of44)
Open Image Modal
Police search outside the home of Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalns, 41, in Castlebar Road in Ealing Broadway, as detectives have revealed that the Latvian builder they are searching for in connection with the disappearance of schoolgirl Alice Gross is a convicted murderer. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(14 of44)
Open Image Modal
Police search outside the home of Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalns, 41, in Castlebar Road in Ealing Broadway, as detectives have revealed that the Latvian builder they are searching for in connection with the disappearance of schoolgirl Alice Gross is a convicted murderer. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(15 of44)
Open Image Modal
Police search outside the home of Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalns, 41, in Castlebar Road in Ealing Broadway, as detectives have revealed that the Latvian builder they are searching for in connection with the disappearance of schoolgirl Alice Gross is a convicted murderer. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(16 of44)
Open Image Modal
Horse mounted police search a section of wasteland between the river Brent and Elthorne Park near to Trumpers Way, Hanwell for missing teenager Alice Gross as detectives investigating the disappearance have received 150 phone calls following a reconstruction of her last known movements. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
(17 of44)
Open Image Modal
Horse mounted police search a section of wasteland between the river Brent and Elthorne Park near to Trumpers Way, Hanwell for missing teenager Alice Gross as detectives investigating the disappearance have received 150 phone calls following a reconstruction of her last known movements. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
(18 of44)
Open Image Modal
Specialists from the London Fire Brigade Urban Search and Rescue team clear the bank of the river Brent in Hanwell, west London searching for missing Alice Gross. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
(19 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Jose Gross and Rosalind Hodgkiss, the parents of missing teenager Alice Gross hold a picture of their daughter at their home in Hanwell on September 25, 2014 in London, England. The hunt for Alice Gross from Hanwell, who went missing on August 28, is now being described as the largest police search operation since the 7/7 bombings of 2005. The police inquiry is now focused on a key suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, a Latvian builder, who was seen in the vicinity of Alice's last sighting. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(20 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Chloe, a 17-year-old police cadet walks along the towpath after walking under the Trumpers Way Bridge as she reconstructs the last known movements of missing schoolgirl Alice Gross on September 25, 2014 in London, England. The hunt for Alice Gross from Hanwell, who went missing on August 28 is now being described as the largest police search operation since the 7/7 bombings of 2005. The police inquiry is now focused on a key suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, a Latvian builder, who was seen in the vicinity of Alice's last sighting. (Photo by John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(21 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Chloe, a 17-year-old police cadet walks across the bridge at the Brentford Locks as she reconstructs the last known movements of missing schoolgirl Alice Gross on September 25, 2014 in London, England. The hunt for Alice Gross from Hanwell, who went missing on August 28 is now being described as the largest police search operation since the 7/7 bombings of 2005. The police inquiry is now focused on a key suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, a Latvian builder, who was seen in the vicinity of Alice's last sighting. (Photo by John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(22 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Chloe, a 17-year-old police cadet walks across the bridge at the Brentford Locks as she reconstructs the last known movements of missing schoolgirl Alice Gross on September 25, 2014 in London, England. The hunt for Alice Gross from Hanwell, who went missing on August 28 is now being described as the largest police search operation since the 7/7 bombings of 2005. The police inquiry is now focused on a key suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, a Latvian builder, who was seen in the vicinity of Alice's last sighting. (Photo by John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(23 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Chloe, a 17-year-old police cadet walks besides the Canal at the Brentford Locks system as she reconstructs the last known movements of missing schoolgirl Alice Gross on September 25, 2014 in London, England. The hunt for Alice Gross from Hanwell, who went missing on August 28 is now being described as the largest police search operation since the 7/7 bombings of 2005. The police inquiry is now focused on a key suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, a Latvian builder, who was seen in the vicinity of Alice's last sighting. (Photo by John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(24 of44)
Open Image Modal
Handout CCTV images issued by Metropolitan Police of cyclists detectives would like to speak to who were seen close to where missing schoolgirl Alice Gross was last seen. The footage shows cyclists on the towpath arriving just before the 14 year old walks past along the Grand Union Canal at 1623 on Thursday August 28. (credit:Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)
(25 of44)
Open Image Modal
Handout CCTV images issued by Metropolitan Police of the rucksack belonging to missing schoolgirl Alice Gross that was found on the towpath by the Grand Union Canal on Thursday August 28. (credit:Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)
(26 of44)
Open Image Modal
House number pixelated by the PA picture desk The family home of missing 14-year-old girl Alice Gross, from Hanwell west London. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(27 of44)
Open Image Modal
House number pixelated by the PA picture desk The family home of missing 14-year-old girl Alice Gross, from Hanwell west London. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(28 of44)
Open Image Modal
Police speak to members of the public as they search the Hanwell locks for missing 14-year-old girl Alice Gross, from Hanwell west London, who was last seen walking along a towpath in west London on August 28. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(29 of44)
Open Image Modal
Police use a boat to search the Hanwell locks for missing 14-year-old girl Alice Gross, from Hanwell west London, who was last seen walking along a towpath in west London on August 28. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(30 of44)
Open Image Modal
The family of missing 14-year-old girl Alice Gross, from Hanwell west London, father Jose Gross, 60, mother Rosalind Hodgkiss 50 and her sister Nina Gross, 19 with Alice's dog Peggy, at the family home in Hanwell as they renew appeals to help find her. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(31 of44)
Open Image Modal
The family of missing 14-year-old girl Alice Gross, from Hanwell west London, father Jose Gross, 60, mother Rosalind Hodgkiss 50 and her sister Nina Gross, 19, at the family home in Hanwell as they renew appeals to help find her. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(32 of44)
Open Image Modal
Rosalind Hodgkiss 50, the mother of missing 14-year-old girl Alice Gross, from Hanwell west London, speaks to the media at the family home in Hanwell as she renews appeals to help find her. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
(33 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Police divers search the river Brent for clues in the hunt for missing school girl Alice Gross on September 25, 2014 in London, England. The hunt for Alice Gross from Hanwell, who went missing on August 28, is now being described as the largest police search operation since the 7/7 bombings of 2005. The police inquiry is now focused on a key suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, a Latvian builder, who was seen in the vicinity of Alice's last sighting. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
(34 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Police divers hold up an item as they search the river Brent for clues in the hunt for missing school girl Alice Gross on September 25, 2014 in London, England. The hunt for Alice Gross from Hanwell, who went missing on August 28, is now being described as the largest police search operation since the 7/7 bombings of 2005. The police inquiry is now focused on a key suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, a Latvian builder, who was seen in the vicinity of Alice's last sighting. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
(35 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: A tree and fence are covered in yellow ribbons as the search for missing school girl Alice Gross continues on September 25, 2014 in London, England. The hunt for Alice Gross from Hanwell, who went missing on August 28. is now being described as the largest police search operation since the 7/7 bombings of 2005. The police inquiry is now focused on a key suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, a Latvian builder, who was seen in the vicinity of Alice's last sighting. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
(36 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Police officers search the river Brent for clues in the hunt for schoolgirl Alice Gross on September 25, 2014 in London, England. The hunt for Alice Gross from Hanwell, who went missing on August 28, is now being described as the largest police search operation since the 7/7 bombings of 2005. The police inquiry is now focused on a key suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, a Latvian builder, who was seen in the vicinity of Alice's last sighting. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
(37 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: A missing poster is placed in an area close to where schoolgirl Alice Gross was last seen on September 23, 2014 in London, England. The hunt for Alice Gross from Hanwell, who went missing on August 28 is now being described as the largest police search operation since the 7/7 bombings of 2005. The police inquiry is now focussed on a key suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, a Latvian builder, who was seen in the vicinity of Alice's last sighting. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
(38 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: A poster of missing schoolgirl Alice Gross hangs on a bridge over The Grand Union Canal at the location of her last sighting, on September 25, 2014 in London, England. The hunt for Alice Gross from Hanwell, who went missing on August 28, is now being described as the largest police search operation since the 7/7 bombings of 2005. The police inquiry is now focused on a key suspect, Arnis Zalkalns, a Latvian builder, who was seen in the vicinity of Alice's last sighting. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
(39 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: A police diver searches a stretch of the Grand Union Canal looking for missing schoolgirl Alice Gross on September 8, 2014 in London, England. Fourteen-year-old Alice Gross, from Hanwell in London, was last seen near the canal on August 28, 2014. Police have been granted more time to question a 25-year-old man arrested on September 6, 2014, whilst a 51-year-old man who was arrested yesterday remains in custody. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)
(40 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: A police diver enters the Grand Union Canal to search for missing schoolgirl Alice Gross on September 8, 2014 in London, England. Fourteen-year-old Alice Gross, from Hanwell in London, was last seen near the canal on August 28, 2014. Police have been granted more time to question a 25-year-old man arrested on September 6, 2014, whilst a 51-year-old man who was arrested yesterday remains in custody. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)
(41 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: A police diver searches a stretch of the Grand Union Canal looking for missing schoolgirl Alice Gross on September 8, 2014 in London, England. Fourteen-year-old Alice Gross, from Hanwell in London, was last seen near the canal on August 28, 2014. Police have been granted more time to question a 25-year-old man arrested on September 6, 2014, whilst a 51-year-old man who was arrested yesterday remains in custody. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)
(42 of44)
Open Image Modal
Maps sightings of missing teenager Alice Gross in west London. Editable versions of this graphic are available via PA Graphics or your account manager (credit:PA Graphics/PA Graphics)
(43 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: Police search teams investigate a stretch of the Grand Union Canal with dogs looking for missing schoolgirl Alice Gross on September 8, 2014 in London, England. Fourteen-year-old Alice Gross, from Hanwell in London, was last seen near the canal on August 28, 2014. Police have been granted more time to question a 25-year-old man arrested on September 6, 2014, whilst a 51-year-old man who was arrested yesterday remains in custody. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)
(44 of44)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: A police diver searches a stretch of the Grand Union Canal looking for missing schoolgirl Alice Gross on September 8, 2014 in London, England. Fourteen-year-old Alice Gross, from Hanwell in London, was last seen near the canal on August 28, 2014. Police have been granted more time to question a 25-year-old man arrested on September 6, 2014, whilst a 51-year-old man who was arrested yesterday remains in custody. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)

It came after they released new pictures of five cyclists spotted riding along the canal around the time Alice went missing.

The grainy images show three cyclists passing by the Trumpers Way Canal Bridge in Hanwell, just before Alice walks past at 4.23pm.

They are followed by two more cyclists who pass under the bridge.

Police have trawled through hundreds of hours of CCTV footage and carried out "extensive" searches using specialist officers in the hunt for the missing schoolgirl.

Alice is white, 5ft 2ins tall, of very slim build and with shoulder-length, light brown hair.

She was last seen wearing dark blue jeans and a dark green lacy cardigan and carrying a dark rucksack, which was recovered earlier this week. She may have been wearing denim blue Vans shoes and tartan-framed spectacles.

Police said they were "especially concerned" as Alice has not been well recently.

Officers are also urging anyone who may have befriended Alice while on a song-writing workshop at the Camden Roundhouse to come forward.

Last week Alice's mother, Rosalind Hodgkiss, issued an emotional appeal to help find her daughter.

She said: "We'd like to say to Alice first of all that we miss her, that we love her and that she's not in any trouble, and we want to know that she's safe. We just want her to come home.

"We're also appealing to anybody who might have seen her or who may have made contact with her or who may know something about her whereabouts to contact police or Missing People, and to just get in touch because we're really concerned about her well-being."

Surrey and Sussex Police have both provided specialist resources to the Met to help with their search.

Anyone with information can call police on 020 8358 0100, Ealing Missing Persons Unit on 020 8246 1018 or the charity Missing People on 116000.