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Missing British boy Alex Batty found in France six years after he was ‘abducted’
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A missing British teenager who has been discovered in France is expected to return to the UK “in the next few days”, police have said.
Alex Batty, who is now 17, went missing six years ago in 2017 after going on a family holiday to Spain.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, he was spotted walking alone on an isolated country road in Toulouse by a student delivery driver. The teenager said he was “kidnapped” by his mother when he was 12-years-old.
Detectives believe he was abducted by his mother Melanie Batty to live an “alternative” lifestyle abroad. The teenager said he had been hiking in nearby mountains for more than four days in an attempt to return to England to his grandmother.
Greater Manchester Police told a press conference this morning: “This is a huge moment for Alex and his family and the whole community in Oldham.”
The police added that Alex and his grandmother “briefly” spoke on the phone on Thursday evening, and while his grandmother is content that Alex has been correctly identified, the police said they “have further checks to do when he returns to the UK”.
Recommended Alex Batty mapped: Missing teen’s key known movements from Spanish holiday to discovery in France Missing Oldham teen Alex Batty told French driver who found him ‘my mother kidnapped me’ ‘Abducted’ Alex Batty has video called grandmother since being found, police say
Key Points Missing British boy found in France six years after he was ‘abducted’ Alex Batty to return to the UK ‘in next few days’, police say 17-year-old ‘hiked for four days in France mountains’ in bid to come home Alex Batty’s family fear teenager was ‘brainwashed’ in commune while missing for six years Map shows last known movements of teen
Show latest update 7 minutes ago Alex Batty: Timeline of British boy’s disappearance as he’s found after six years
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Alex Batty was spotted walking alone on an isolated country road in Toulouse by a student delivery driver.
But when and why did Alex originally go missing? The Independent has put together a timeline below:
The now 17-year-old from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was 11 years old when he went missing in 2017. He went on holiday to Marbella, Spain, on a pre-agreed trip with his mother Melanie 37, and grandfather David, 58, when he was apparently “abducted” by his mother.
His grandmother and legal guardian Susan Caruana stayed at home in the UK. Inquiries at the time suggested he may have travelled from Malaga to Melilla on the Moroccan border. Police then launched an investigation.
Speaking to reporters after his disappearance, Ms Caruana said: “On the Sunday, they were due back in the afternoon and my husband was going to pick them up. I got this message on Facebook and it was a YouTube video of the three of them.
Alex Batty: Timeline of British boy’s disappearance as he’s found after six years Alex Batty went missing six years ago in October 2017 after going on a family holiday to Marbella
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 December 2023 14:20
27 minutes ago Alex Batty’s mother ‘belong to spirutalist group’, French TV reports
France’s BFM TV reported Alex’s mother belonged to a spiritualist group without a fixed residence, moving around the region known as a destination for people in pursuit of an alternative way of life in caravans and tents.
A search operation to find her has been started, the television station added.
“We still have some work to do in establishing the full circumstances surrounding his disappearance and where he has been in all those years,” Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes of Greater Manchester Police said.
“At the moment the priority is speaking to Alex ... but obviously his mother is part of that conversation and investigation.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 December 2023 14:00
57 minutes ago Teen’s aunt voices concern for ‘what Alex will be like when he comes home'
Alex Batty’s aunt, Maureen Batty, said the situation is a “mess” and she does not know what the teenager “will be like” when he comes home.
Speaking to the Mirror on Thursday evening, Ms Batty said she was “relieved” because she had “no idea about where he has been for the last six or seven years”.
She said: “I don’t know where his mother or grandad are and they are not pressing Alex about it yet. Alex hasn’t had any education while out there, so we don’t know what he’ll be like when he comes home. It has affected me. Alex has had it rough. It is a mess.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 December 2023 13:30
1 hour ago Alex Batty’s family fear teenager was ‘brainwashed’ in commune while missing for six years
A teenager allegedly kidnapped by his mother and grandfather six years ago and taken to a “spiritual community” in France has been “brainwashed” by the ordeal, his family have claimed.
Asking to message his grandmother Susan Caruana, his legal guardian, he wrote to her on Facebook: “I love you, I want to come home.” The teenager was taken to police and is now expected back home in Oldham in the next few days.
But while the overjoyed family prepare to be reunited, questions remain over where the boy had been living over the past six years, the whereabouts of his mother and grandfather and the impact the period has had on him.
Alex Batty’s family fear teenager was ‘brainwashed’ while missing for six years Relatives are overjoyed by Alex Batty’s discovery, but fear for his wellbeing after six years away
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 December 2023 12:56
1 hour ago Map shows last known movements of teen found after six years
Here are the last known movements of Alex Batty before he was found this week in Toulouse.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 December 2023 12:28
2 hours ago Alex’s grandmother feeling ‘whole host of emotions’ on shock return of grandson
Questioned on how Alex and his grandmother Susan Caruana are feeling, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes of Greater Manchester Police, said: “From what I have seen from the officers that have spoken to the grandmother, she has a whole host of emotions and feelings as you could imagine.
“The French authorities have been looking after Alex really, really well.
“Our real concern is how we bring Alex back to the UK in a safe way and make sure we look after his wellbeing.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 December 2023 11:54
2 hours ago
‘Abducted’ Alex Batty has video called grandmother since being found, police say A missing British teenager who has been discovered in France has had a video call with his grandmother, police have said. Alex Batty, who is now 17, went missing six years ago in 2017 after going on a family holiday to Spain. On the early hours of Wednesday morning, he was spotted walking alone on an isolated country road in Toulouse by a student delivery driver. The teenager said he was “kidnapped” by his mother when he was 12-years-old. In a press conference on Friday (15 December), Greater Manchester Police said Alex and his grandmother “briefly” spoke on the phone on Thursday evening, and while his grandmother is content that Alex has been correctly identified, they “have further checks to do when he returns to the UK”.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 December 2023 11:33
3 hours ago Alex Batty mapped: Missing teen’s key known movements from Spanish holiday to discovery in France
Almost 1,000 miles away from his home, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, a delivery driver spotted 17-year-old Alex Batty walking along a road in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
The driver offered him a lift and the missing British teenager, from Oldham in Greater Manchester, reportedly soon told him that he had been living in France for the past two years after moving there from a luxury house in Spain — where he went on holiday six years ago and never returned.
The driver, a chiropody student called Fabien Accidini who alerted local police, discovered Alex near the town of Revel near Toulouse, 990 miles from the teenager’s home in Fitton Hill, Oldham. The boy, whose had last been seen at the Port of Malaga in October 2017, had hiked for more than four days in an apparent attempt to return home.
Alex Batty’s key known movements mapped from Spanish holiday to discovery in France Alex Batty was discovered walking near the French town of Revel by a delivery driver in the early hours of Wednesday morning
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 December 2023 11:13
3 hours ago Watch: ‘Abducted’ Alex Batty has video called grandmother since being found, police say
‘Abducted’ Alex Batty has video called grandmother since being found, police say
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 December 2023 10:38
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4 hours ago Alex Batty to return to the UK ‘in next few days’, police say
Greater Manchester Police said they hope Alex will return to the UK “in the next few days”.
In a press conference on Friday, Mr Sykes told reporters: “The young man and Alex’s grandmother spoke on a video call last night and whilst she is content that this is indeed Alex, we obviously have further checks to do when he returns to the United Kingdom.
“Our main priority now is to see Alex returned home to his family in the UK and our investigation team are working around the clock with partner agencies and the French authorities to ensure they are all fully supported.
“Alex and his family remain our focus and we still have some work to do in establishing the full circumstances surrounding his disappearance and where he has been in all those years.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 15 December 2023 09:50
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