-
Watch Video
-
Related
Auckland police have found a body in their search for two-year-old Aisling Symes.
Police and the fire service with lights and cutting equipment descended on a property adjoining the address from which the toddler disappeared a week ago.
The two-year-old girl went missing from the west Auckland suburb of Henderson last Monday.
Inspector Gary Davey says police found the body of a young child in a drain shortly before 8.00pm.
"It is too early at this stage to know how the child got there, or in fact, how long the child was in the drain," Davey says.
"Police are speaking with the family of Aisling Symes, but it is too early to determine for certain that it is Aisling.
"The immediate scene has been cordoned off and it is now being treated as a crime scene."
Police seem to be having a problem gaining access into the drain due to the bush covering it and equipment has been brought in to make access easier.
ONE News reporter Jack Tame says the fire service had earlier sent in a large circular saw which could be heard working and the fire engine has now left the scene.
Neighbours say police began arriving at the scene late Monday afternoon and that a police helicopter was in the area.
The property adjoins the address on Longburn road where the toddler went missing.
A police guard is stationed at that address and Tame says a crowd gathered outside watching the police activity had swelled to 200. The crowd has now dispersed, though there are few still keeping vigil close to the site.
Earlier on Monday, British aristocrat Lord Ashcroft offered a reward of $50,000 in the Symes case.
