Katrice Lee’s father speaks after arrest made over 1981 disappearance
The father of Katrice Lee has said the arrest of a person in connection with her disappearance 38 years ago has made it “feel raw”.
Katrice disappeared from a supermarket near a British military base in Paderborn, Germany, on November 28 in 1981, her second birthday.
She was out shopping with her mother Sharon and aunt Wendy at the Naafi store close to where her soldier father Richard was stationed.
Following recent events in Swindon we will be making no comments until we know for sure what is happening.
The family ask that people refrain from speculation at this time so as not to jeopardise any future proceedings.#WeLiveInHope#KatriceLee
— Where is Katrice Lee (@HelpFindKatrice) September 24, 2019
Military police reportedly began searching a terraced house in the Moredon area of Swindon on Monday.
On Tuesday, an Army spokesman said: “We can confirm that an arrest was made on September 23 by the Royal Military Police in connection with the disappearance of Katrice Lee in 1981.
“As this is an ongoing investigation we cannot comment further at this stage.”
Katrice’s father, a retired sergeant major, told the Mirror that he had been made aware that an arrest would be made.
“This arrest brings it all back and makes it feel raw,” he told the Mirror.
“As with parents in all cases of missing children, we want a happy ending but that might not be the case and we just hope we will get answers.”
In a post on Twitter, the Help Find Katrice account said: “Following recent events in Swindon we will be making no comments until we know for sure what is happening.
“The family ask that people refrain from speculation at this time so as not to jeopardise any future proceedings. #WeLiveInHope #KatriceLee”.
Royal Military Police launched a re-investigation, named Operation Bute, into Katrice’s disappearance in 2012.
Last year, a forensic search took place on the bank of the River Alma, near where Katrice was last seen, but nothing was found.
Katrice went missing while shopping for treats for a birthday party with her mother Sharon, from Gosport, and aunt Wendy.
Her mother realised in the checkout queue that she had forgotten crisps and asked her sister to watch Katrice.
When she returned in what she has estimated was less than a minute, Katrice was gone.
Her sister said Katrice had run after her and she believed they were together.
