Police admit missing student Libby Squire ‘may have come to harm’

Missing University of Hull student Libby Squire is pictured in Paris in May 2017 during a gap year when she visited with friends

Police searching for missing student Libby Squire today admitted that she ‘may have come to some harm’ nearly two weeks after she disappeared.

Fifty detectives and hundreds of uniformed officers have been working around the clock to try to find the 21-year-old University of Hull student, who was reported missing on February 1.

The admission from Humberside Police came as the force released pictures of replicas of clothing Miss Squire was wearing when she was last seen in Hull.

Detective Superintendent Martin Smalley said: ‘Over the last two weeks, our inquiries into Libby’s disappearance have continued around the clock with detectives and officers working night and day to find her and to understand what happened that night.

‘While we do continue to be hopeful and we will always keep an open mind, Libby has been missing for 14 days now and we sadly have to consider she may have come to some harm.

‘We are continuing to support Libby’s family through this incredibly difficult and distressing time. 

‘They are understandably distraught not knowing where their daughter and loved one is, and we will endeavour to give them the answers they desperately need.’ 

Clothes similar to  the ones worn by Miss Squire on the night the student disappeared in Hull

Clothes similar to the ones worn by Miss Squire on the night the student disappeared in Hull

Photographs released by Miss Squire’s family yesterday show her at home on Christmas Day last year (left) and in Paris in May 2017 (right) when she visited with friends during a gap year

A map of Hull shows the second year philosophy student's movements on the night of January 31 in Hull before she vanished and the areas police have searched

A map of Hull shows the second year philosophy student’s movements on the night of January 31 in Hull before she vanished and the areas police have searched

The hunt for Miss Squire today entered its 14th day, after police divers from the regional marine and underwater search unit had yesterday searched beneath the surface of the pond at Oak Road Playing Fields, near her home in Hull.

Other search teams continued an operation to cut back undergrowth near the pond.

Miss Squire is believed to have taken a taxi from The Welly nightclub on Beverley Road, about one and a half miles from her home, after she was refused entry on the evening of January 31.

CCTV footage obtained by the Press Association showed the student outside the club at about 11.20pm that night.

Police search Oak Road Playing Fields in Hull on Tuedsay in connection with the disappearance

Police search Oak Road Playing Fields in Hull on Tuedsay in connection with the disappearance

Miss Squire's parents Lisa and Russ Squire (pictured) said she 'has a big heart' and is 'much loved' by her three younger siblings

Miss Squire’s parents Lisa and Russ Squire (pictured) said she ‘has a big heart’ and is ‘much loved’ by her three younger siblings

Pawel Relowicz was charged with several sex offences around Hull - including one just 12 days before Libby vanished. The alleged crimes (pictured) date back to Christmas 2017 up until the eve of the student's disappearance

Pawel Relowicz was charged with several sex offences around Hull – including one just 12 days before Libby vanished. The alleged crimes (pictured) date back to Christmas 2017 up until the eve of the student’s disappearance

Police said she was dropped off by the taxi near her home at about 11.29pm and was then seen near a bench on Beverley Road about 10 minutes later, when a motorist offered her help.

Pawel Relowicz, of Hull, was arrested and questioned on suspicion of abduction in connection with Miss Squire's disappearance

Pawel Relowicz, of Hull, was arrested and questioned on suspicion of abduction in connection with Miss Squire’s disappearance

More CCTV footage, released last week after it was obtained by ITV News, showed a man getting in and out of a car, minutes after the last sighting of the philosophy student.

In the video, the unidentified man is seen opening the front passenger door before getting back into the car and driving away at about 12.09am on February 1.

The investigation has seen teams from a range of organisations helping with the search.

Large digital posters displaying the face of the missing student have been placed around Hull city centre and petrol stations and local businesses have put up posters on their premises.

Yesterday, her parents Lisa and Russ Squire said she ‘has a big heart’ and is ‘much loved’ by her three younger siblings as they issued a series of new pictures of their daughter.

Police search Oak Road playing fields in Hull on Tuesday in connection with the disappearance

Police search Oak Road playing fields in Hull on Tuesday in connection with the disappearance

Police arrive to search Oak Road Playing Fields in Hull on Tuesday over the disappearance

Police arrive to search Oak Road Playing Fields in Hull on Tuesday over the disappearance

Timeline: The hunt for missing Libby Squire

11pm, January 31: Libby is refused entry at Welly Club around two miles from her home and put into a taxi

11.30pm: Libby was dropped off on Wellesley Avenue – but does not go inside her house

11.45pm: Libby was seen sitting on a bench around the corner on Beverley Road. A witness says she was seen speaking to the driver of a car.

12.09am: Detectives believe Libby stayed in the area for about half an hour – but is then gone.

12.30am, February 1: A near-neighbour says she woke up after hearing ‘blood-curdling’ screams. 

February 6: Pawel Relowicz is arrested on suspicion of Libby’s abduction

February 8: Police ask for more time to interview abduction suspect.

February 10: Relowicz is charged with voyeurism, burglary and indecency – but no charges related to Libby’s disappearance.

February 11: He pleads not guilty. 

Mr and Mrs Squire, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, said: ‘Libby is a much-loved big sister to her three younger siblings. They all really look up to her and she always expects them to behave.

‘Libby has a big heart. She is always happy and having fun. She laughs a lot. She is a real family person and loves spending time at home with them.’

The new photographs showed Miss Squire at home on Christmas Day last year and in Paris in May 2017 when she visited with friends during a gap year.

Last week Pawel Relowicz, of Raglan Street, Hull, was arrested and questioned on suspicion of abduction in connection with Miss Squire’s disappearance and police said the 24-year-old remains under investigation.

Residents living on and around Raglan Street have received letters asking if they saw or heard anything unusual on the night the student went missing.

Relowicz was charged with a number of offences unrelated to Miss Squire’s disappearance and appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of voyeurism, outraging public decency and burglary.

Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk