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Leicester: River search for two-year-old boy to be scaled down

Leicestershire Police Xielo MaruzivaLeicestershire Police
Two-year-old Xielo Maruziva has been missing since he fell into the River Soar on 18 February

A major operation to find a two-year-old who fell into a river in Leicester will be scaled down, police have said.

Rescue teams have spent more than 2,000 hours searching for Xielo Maruziva in the River Soar.

Officers were called to the Marsden Lane area of Aylestone Meadows at about 05:00 GMT on 18 February.

After a month of searching, the force said on Thursday that specialist resources from across the country would no longer be at the scene.

More than 200 officers have been involved in the operation, assisted by five specialist search and rescue teams from across the country, Leicestershire Police said.

It also included officers from Tactical Support Teams, marine recovery dogs, the Environment Agency and Watersafe UK.

Additional support and advice was also provided by Specialist Group International (SGI) and from the National Crime Agency (NCA).

PA Media DiverPA Media
Specialist teams from across the UK have helped with the search

Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr thanked everyone involved, and added: "Our search for Xielo has continued to take a staged approach and during the coming weeks while additional specialist resources from across the country will no longer be at the scene, our own force teams will continue to carry out regular patrols both on the water and along the river banks.

"Search and rescue teams will also continue to provide support to us where they can.

"This staged approach will of course remain under review and we continue to seek advice going forward and to act on any information received.

"Our priority is and always has been to find Xielo."

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