Teen Missing for Six Years Found in France
Authorities believe a U.K. teen who went missing six years ago while on vacation in Spain has been found in France.
The teenager, now 17 years old, was discovered in Revel, not far from Toulouse, France when a concerned motorist picked him up. Broadcasters BFMTV reported that the driver had noticed the adolescent looking lost and haggard by the side of a road and drove him to a nearby police station, according to the Associated Press.
"He should soon be returning to England," said a spokesperson from the Toulouse public prosecution office to Reuters news agency. The spokesperson also mentioned that the criminal investigation into the teen's disappearance is being conducted by British authorities.
The Greater Manchester police released a statement on Thursday stating that they have been "contacted regarding a possible sighting in France of the missing teenager." They further added that they are in communication with French authorities to verify the sighting.
This is a complex and long-running investigation, says police spokesperson
"This is a complex and long-running investigation, and we need to make further enquiries as well as putting appropriate safeguarding measures in place," a police spokesperson said.
Alex Batty, along with his mother and grandfather, went missing during a family vacation in Spain when he was 11 years old. They did not return on their scheduled flight, leading to a massive police manhunt.
Batty's grandmother revealed that the family had been living in a commune in Morocco in 2014 as part of an "alternative lifestyle," which she believed was the reason behind the boy's disappearance. She stated that they did not want him to attend school.
The missing teen was recently found in France after contacting his grandmother via Facebook. He had been living there for two years, according to a driver who picked him up.
The police are now searching for Batty's mother and grandfather, who are wanted in connection with his disappearance.
