Police arrest three men for abduction as 15-year-old schoolgirl is rescued after she went missing 16 days ago
- Maddie Thomas, 15, vanished after leaving home in Bristol on April 26
- She left her foster parents’ home in the Southmead area to go to the shops
- Police found Maddie today and arrested three men on suspicion of abduction
- Police said Maddie was ‘being provided with all the care and support she needs’
The 15-year-old girl whose disappearance sparked a nationwide man-hunt has been found safe and well, MailOnline can reveal.
Maddie Thomas vanished without trace from the Southmead area of Bristol last month leading detectives to fear that she may have been abducted.
Avon and Somerset Police last night made a nationwide appeal for information about the missing youngster after she had not been seen for 15 days.
Maddie Thomas vanished without trace from the Southmead area of Bristol last month leading detectives to fear that she may have been abducted
Three men were arrested at lunchtime today on suspicion of abducting the teen, pictured
Detective Inspector Laura Miller, who lead the man-hunt for Maddie, said: ‘We’re delighted to confirm Maddie has been found. ‘Three men are in police custody and will soon be questioned by officers’
This morning her heart-broken mother Melanie made her own tearful appeal to Maddie to come home.
Speaking from the doorstep of her home, Mum Melanie said: ‘Melanie please come home.
‘Please get in touch and tell us you are safe.’
She added: ‘Whatever has happened it doesn’t matter. You are not in trouble. We just want you to come home.’
Maddie was rescued from a house in Bristol at lunchtime today.
There men were arrested at the property on suspicion of abducting the 15-year-old.
Detectives then informed Maddie’s parents and foster parents that she had been located.
Detective Inspector Laura Miller, who lead the man-hunt for Maddie, said: ‘We’re delighted to confirm Maddie has been found.
‘Three men are in police custody and will soon be questioned by officers.
‘We’re extremely grateful for all the support the public gave us in our search for Maddie and would like to reassure them she is now being provided with all the care and support she needs.
‘We appreciate there is significant interest in this case and I’d ask people not to speculate and to think about the impact it may have on Maddie and her loved ones.’
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