Cannock shop and nail bar raided in Vietnamese tourist kidnap probe

A house on St James Road and a nail bar on Mill Street in the town centre have been cordoned off for two days and remain under police guard today.

It is part of the police probe into the disappearance of 15-year-old Vietnamese tourist Linh Thi Dieu Le, who was found safe and well last night after going missing in York last Tuesday.

North Yorkshire Police have charged one person and arrested nine others, including a man and a woman in Staffordshire, in connection with Ms Le's alleged abduction.

The force has now confirmed that the iNails UK bar and semi-detached house in Cannock were raided in connection with the disappearance of Ms Le, but said that she was not found at either property.

Officers appealed for information across the UK after Ms Le was last seen with an Asian man, aged around 20, during a visit to York just before 5pm on August 6.

Police confirmed this morning that Ms Le was found safe last night but refused to disclose where for "operational reasons".

The suspects arrested in Staffordshire remain in custody as investigations continue into the circumstances of her disappearance.

'Loads of police'

A woman, who wished to stay anonymous and lives nearby to the Cannock home that was raided, said that a number of police and forensic officers arrived at the scene on Sunday.

She said: "We've been away, came home Sunday evening and saw police coming down the street.

"There's been forensic vans and loads of police, they were there until late.

"Then Monday there was around five cars, vans, everything.

"We don't know the people who live there, they moved in around Easter and we don't think they spoke English.

"It's a man and a woman and there was always a lot of noise coming from the house."

Another neighbour added: "For three days now there's been police and forensics and we don't know anything.

"It's a surprise to see police on your street."

Falah Aziz, a barber at diamond scissors next door to the nail bar, said: "I saw police here and they won't tell us anything.

"They've been inside the shop and looking around.

"A man and his wife own it and I haven't seen them since."

Charged

Ho Quang Ngoc, aged 25, has been charged by police with child abduction and facilitating a breach of immigration laws.

He appeared at York Magistrates' Court yesterday and entered a not guilty plea.

He will now appear at York Crown Court on September 16 for trial.

The man and woman arrested in Staffordshire remain in police custody, while the seven other people arrested in connection with the incident have been released under investigation.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "We can confirm that 15-year-old missing Linh Le who disappeared while on a visit to York, was found safe and well last night.

"The investigation into the circumstances of her disappearance remains ongoing and of the ten people arrested in connection with her disappearance, two people remain in police custody for questioning and one has been charged and appeared in court yesterday.

"For operational reasons and ongoing enquiries we are not yet in a position to reveal where Linh Le was found."