Police carry out reconstruction of Alice Gross' last known movements as family issue appeal

Today police spokesperson said operation has gathered largest amount of CCTV evidence since 2011 London riots

A missing persons poster, requesting for information following the disappearance of 14-year-old Alice Gross from Hanwell, is accompanied by yellow ribbons in Hanwell town centre in west London. The hunt for Alice Gross, who went missing on 28 August is no

Police have carried out a reconstruction of missing schoolgirl Alice Gross' last known movement as her family issue a heartrending appeal for the teenagers safe return.

In a statement the Gross family said: “We cannot believe that Alice is not at home with us and every morning brings new agony.”

“We are appealing to Alice. If you are out there, to come home where you belong. We love you and we miss you.”

“We want to be a family again,” they added.

The distraught family appealed to members of the public who might have any information on Alice’s whereabouts, saying: "Please, please help us."

Today a Metropolitan police spokesperson said: "This has been the largest gathering and securing of CCTV evidence since the London riots."

Police are also searching for the convicted Latvian murderer Arnis Zalkalns.

Builder Zalkalns, who has been missing since 3 September, was seen cycling along the same towpath 15 minutes after Alice.

In 1998 he was imprisoned for the brutal murder of his first wife, who he lured to a secluded wooded area and bludgeoned to death before standing over her pre-prepared grave and drinking. He served seven years of an eight year sentence before arriving in the UK in 2007.

Armis Zalkalns, 41, was reported missing on 5 September; Alice Gross is only 14

The search for Alice has been the largest since the 7/7 bombings. Police have followed 729 lines of inquiry, speaking to over a thousand of members of the public since she was reported missing on 28 August.

Around 600 officers - across eight forces - have been involved in the search, with detectives now pursing inquiries in Latvian capital Riga. They ahve also released an interactive map tracking Alice's last movements.

Detective Superintendent Carl Mehta, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "The public's support has been amazing, both from the local community and all the hundreds of people who have called in to give us information.

Speaking to the BBC Force Commander Graham McNulty admitted naming Zalkalns as a suspect in Alice’s disappearance was a “kind of last resort.”

“It’s not very often we seek to name suspects … because you’re tipping people off,” he said.

Map showing Alice's last movements (Met Police)

There is a £20,000 reward for any information leading detectives to Alice.