Hundreds of leaflets were handed out to motorists driving through Willowglen yesterday
- exactly a week from the disappearance Aleksandr Benga in an effort to gather more
information about his movements.
The 16-year-old was last seen shortly before 9am on Monday near to the waterwheel
in the Lews Castle grounds.
Police divers arrived off the Monday lunchtime ferry from Ullapool and “so people may see activity within the castle grounds in relation to that.”
Specialist officers and search dogs were out on the Pentland Road and the old Achmore Road on Sunday, checking the airighean (sheilings) in case the teenager sought refuge from the cold and wet weather. Ditches and verges along the roadside have been searched.
Jane Mackenzie, Area Commander for Police Scotland in the Western Isles, said the
stop-and-speak operation with passing traffic hoped to spark recollections with motorists
over their journey the previous week.
She said: “We’re standing here today around about the time that Aleksandr was last seen, so we’re hoping by doing this that we can possibly jog memories for people that were possibly driving in or out of Stornoway.”
Police are appealing to drivers to check footage from their vehicle’s dashcam in case the youth has been captured on camera.
People living between Willowglen Road and Cameron Terrace, as well as residents of the Marybank and Maryhill area are also urged to review images from private security cameras.
Jane Mackenzie said: “We’ve got search advisers, search team officers, police dogs, police search dogs, and they are supported by civilian mountain rescue teams, both from (Hebrides Mountain Rescue Team) and Dundonnell and Assynt mountain rescue teams who have also got Sarda dogs with them.”
Aleksandr is 6ft 2ins tall, of slim build with short brown hair. When last seen, he was wearing a beige coloured jumper and black jeans. He may have been wearing a yellow beanie hat.
She appealed to anyone who may have seen him to contact Police Scotland, if they have not been in touch so far.
Many people with specialist search skills have arrived on the island on a rolling basis over the past week.
The area commander continued: “We are very concerned for Aleksandr given the adverse weather conditions over the last week “especially if he’s still out in the open air.”
She added: “We hope that he has possibly sought shelter somewhere and would urge people to check any outbuildings, sheds, garden areas, where he may have sought shelter.”
Police dive team to search Lews Castle Grounds where missing Stornoway youth was last seen
26 November 2024
