Live updates as police become 'gravely concerned' for student nurse who vanished following night out


Police have become 'gravely concerned' for Karen Buckley as they resume the search for missing student nurse in Glasgow today.
The 24-year-old vanished following a night out with friends in the city in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Karen was last seen at The Sanctuary on Dumbarton Road at around 1am.
Police have since established she left the nightclub with a man, named locally as 21-year-old Alexander Pacteau.
He has told police they went back to his flat where they had sex before Karen left at around 4am.
Police have said they are not treating Mr Pacteau as a suspect.
His mum Noreen said: "As you can tell by the police reports, he is not a suspect.
"She left his property at four o’clock in the morning and she was seen by other witnesses, not Alexander.
"So he is not a suspect."
A large number of officers are resuming a search of Dowsholm Park where Karen's handbag, containing her mobile phone was found.
5:40 pm
Police search farm and golf club north of Glasgow
Police have cordoned off a farm just outside Glasgow, roughly eight miles from Dunbarton Road.
Officers were seen at High Craigton Farm, in Milngavie, Glasgow.
There are also reports of police activity at Windyhills Golf Club, which is close to the farm.

5:32 pm
Man who took Karen back to flat is convicted fraudster

The man at the centre of the police investigation into missing student Karen Buckley was last year convicted of forging £6000 worth of banknotes.
Alexander Pacteau admitted using equipment from his then home in Drumchapel to print £20 notes after running out of money.
The Record revealed today how the 21-year-old former private schoolboy has been spoken to by police about Karen, 24, who vanished in the early hours of Sunday morning after a night out in Glasgow.
Police have stressed Pacteau is not a suspect but he has admitted taking Karen back to his flat in Dorchester Avenue in the city’s Kelvindale area.
Read more here.
5:24 pm
Church in village where Karen's mother is from to hold service
St John’s Church in Galbally will hold a mass tomorrow night at 8pm for missing Karen Buckley.
Her mother Marion is from Galbally, according to a Facebook page for the village's community.
One member posted: "Please God she will turn up safe, well and happy."
The church, in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, is the latest to offer prayers for the wellbeing of the nursing student.
A Mass of Hope for the family will be held this evening in the Parish of Mourneabbey in the Diocese of Cloyne, the Irish Catholic Bishop's Conference has announced earlier today.
5:05 pm
Bishop prays for safety of missing student
William Crean, Catholic Bishop of Cloyne in Ireland, has led prayers for the 24-year-old's safe return.
"On my own behalf and on behalf of the faithful of the Diocese of Cloyne, I wish to offer prayerful support to the family of Karen Buckley at this painful time as they await the safe return of Karen," he said.
"We have all been deeply touched by the unconditional love expressed by John and Marian for their daughter Karen."
Bishop Crean urged the people of Mourneabbey to pray for Ms Buckley's safe return and to pray for her parents, and her brothers Brendan, Kieran and Damian.
"I invite all people of goodwill to join with me in prayer for everyone who is involved in the search for Karen at this time," he said.
4:46 pm
Who is last man to see student nurse?


 The last person to see missing Glasgow nursing student Karen Buckley was 21-year-old Alexander Pacteau.
He told police he left Sanctuary nightclub with Karen at around 4am on Sunday morning and they drove back to his flat on Dorchester Avenue.
Police are not treating him as a suspect and he is still helping police with inquiries.
Court records show Mr Pacteau was convicted of fraud last July.
Read more here
4:37 pm
Police appeal for information on mystery grey car
Police are keen to find out more about a grey car that was seen on the roads between Milngavie and Drymen north of Glasgow between 11am and 3pm on Monday.
Detective Superintendent Jim Kerr from Police Scotland said: "The activity of this grey car on the Monday is something that we're a wee bit concerned about. This car has been seen at various locations on these roads and I want to know why.
"We are gravely concerned that Karen has come to some harm. Whether that is down to foul play, criminality or she has taken unwell or had an accident is obviously still to be established."
Search for missing Glasgow student Karen Buckley is extended
4:29 pm
University is "extremely concerned"
Glasgow Caledonian University has said it is "extremely concerned" about Karen Buckley.
It posted a series of tweets saying: "We are extremely concerned for the safe return of GCU student Karen Buckley and would urge anyone who has any information to contact Police Scotland on 101 and ask for the incident room.
"Staff are currently assisting the police with their ongoing investigation and students are being offered support by the University."
4:25 pm
Officers seen leaving flat with bags and boxes
Forensic officers carrying boxes and black bags have left a property in Dorchester Avenue, the street at the centre of the search for the missing Irish student.
The hunt for Karen Buckley is focusing on Dawsholm Park in the north-west of Glasgow and a nearby flat in Dorchester Avenue where the 24-year-old was last seen.
Two officers in forensic suits entered the flat and are searching an area to the rear which has been cordoned off. Members of the search team were pictured carrying spades.
4:18 pm
Irish church to hold Mass of Hope for missing Karen
A Mass of Hope for the family of Karen Buckley will be celebrated this evening in the Parish of Mourneabbey in the Diocese of Cloyne, the Irish Catholic Bishop's Conference has announced.
Father Joe O’Keeffe, Parish Priest of Mourneabbey, will be the celebrant of this Mass which will be attended by the local parish community tonight at the Church of Saint Michael The Archangel, Analeentha, Mourneabbey, Mallow, Cork.
Father O’Keeffe will make a statement to the press before the 8pm mass.
4:00 pm
"Please return her": Plea from father


  Karen Buckley's parents have pleaded with anyone who may be holding their daughter to “give her back”.
Karen’s dad John Buckley, 62, told a police press conference in Glasgow: "If anybody is holding Karen or anybody knows anything of her, please return her."
He added: "Please return her. Just give her back. We love her to bits."
2:34 pm
'Our priority is find Karen' - Police
On the Twitter page of Police Scotland's Greater Glasgow division today, DS Jim Kerr said "Our absolute priority is to find Karen Buckley."
Patrols have been increased in the west end, Kelvindale and Anniesland areas of the city, with specialist officers carrying out a detailed search of Dawsholm Park and the surrounding area.
Police divers, a helicopter crew and search dogs are all involved in the hunt, police said.
2:20 pm
Police 'looking in locked garages'
The police searches around Alexander Pacteau's home have continued this afternoon, with one resident revealing officers are looking in locked garages.
Specialist teams have combed the area near the canal and carried out searches between some old wooden huts and peered inside the garages situated on a road off Clevenden Road.
A resident, who has been asked only to be identified as Anne, 57, said: "I looked out my window this afternoon and could see the police searching the grass down by the garages behind the flats.
"Behind our garages there is a dirt road with a number of locked garages and the police are just starting to search them.
"The garages back on to woodland and then the canal."
2:01 pm
VIDEO: What we know so far

Here's some video to round up what we know so far of Karen Buckley's disappearance.
She was last seen around 1am on Sunday morning outside Sanctuary nightclub in Glasgow.
She told friends she was going to the toilet and didn't come back.
Police have found her handbag in a park and launched a major search operation to find the 24-year-old which is ongoing.
1:57 pm
'Keep Karen in your prayers' - Best friend Julie


Karen Buckley with best friend Julie (left)
One of Karen Buckley's best friends has posted a heartbreaking gallery of pictures of them together and urged members of the public to keep sharing her appeal.
Julie Malone published the images on her Facebook page of her and Karen enjoying nights out, going to festivals and posing on day trips.
Shattered Julie whose post was shared 45, 956 times, said: "Just want to thank everyone for sharing and liking photos of Karen.
"It means so much to all her friends and undoubtedly her family ..we just want the word and her picture out there to gather information!
"Keep liking and sharing pics, news articles and the group Please Help Find Karen missing in Glasgow and keep her in your prayers."
1:48 pm
''Thoughts and prayers with Karen's family' - Sturgeon


  First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Our thoughts and prayers are very much with Karen's family and friends.
"What her parents are going through must by unimaginable at this time.
"I have total confidence that the police are doing everything they can."
1:07 pm
Police cordon off bin outside Dawsholm Park
Police are continuing to come and go at Dawsholm Park where the search for Karen has been focused today.
Reports suggest a bin has been cordoned off outside the park.
12:38 pm
Police to regroup over lunch
Police are currently having a regroup to find out where they are with the search for Karen today.
Reports suggest detectives leading the hunt are in a meeting now.
Out at Dawsholm Park officers are convening at a mobile command unit.
12:17 pm
Police sifting through rubbish at rear of Dorchester Avenue


Police looking for student Karen Buckley search Dorchester Avenue
 A team of eight officers are now searching a grass verge which overlooks the property's rear garden.
Two officers are carefully sifting through bags of rubbish that appeared to have been left by flytippers.
One officer emptied the contents of a black bin bag as the search for clues continues.
12:00 pm
Dorchester Avenue residents quizzed over Karen's disappearance


  A Dorchester Avenue resident has told how he was quizzed by police yesterday.
The man, who asked not to be named, said: "I was here on Saturday but didn't see or hear anything at all. I was also in the park in Sunday.
"I spoke to the  police investigation team yesterday.
"They asked me where I was, what I was doing, what was going on.
"Did I notice anything? Did I see anyone unusual?
"But I didn't see anything."
11:40 am
Recycling depot searched
A recycling centre next to the park where Karen's handbag was found is being searched, it has been reported.
According to the Glasgow Evening Times, the depot which adjoins Dawsholm park is a line of enquiry.
The area has been cordoned off has a large number of police officers scoured the area overnight and again this morning.
However, it is believed the search area may now be widened further.
11:21 am
Friends want 'kind, caring' Karen home soon
A lovely picture here tweeted by Karen's friend Jen.
Dozens of pals have been tweeting pictures and appeals using the hashtag #FindKaren over the past few days.
She is clearly a popular girl.
Another friend Julie wrote on Facebook: "Prayers and thoughts with Marion and John tonight.
"Only met them a handful of times but they are lovely people and doting parents. Karen has always spoke so fondly of her mum, dad and three brothers. She is a credit to her parents.
"Karen is a kind, caring girl who wouldn't hurt a fly.. perfect for the caring profession. Come back to us safe Karen, come back soon. Missing you my little Buckaroo.
"All your friends are supporting each other waiting on new news every second, of every minute, of every day. I love you xx"
 The search of the communal garden outside the front of number 11 has concluded.

Nothing of note appears to have been found.
Officers then walked through the secured entry door to begin a search of the property's rear garden.
10:40 am
Officers combing garden for clues


Police looking for missing student Karen Buckley search garden Dorchester Avenue address
 Officers have now moved their search into the garden of block 11 Dorchester Avenue.
In two teams  - one concentrating on the right, the other on the left of the closed door -  they probe bushes and shrubs, slowly working their way towards the entrance of the block in search of anything that could give a clue to the whereabouts of the missing student.
Yesterday, forensic officers were seen going in and out of the flat.
10:32 am
BREAKING: Officers carrying out fingertip search of garden at man's flat
 Specialist officers have just returned to the block of flats where Alexander Pacteau says he brought Kare home.
Nine officers dressed in black have arrived outside the taped off block at Dorchester Avenue where a lone officer stands guard.
They are equipped with long sticks to aid a fingertip search of the area inside and outside the address.
Officers have split into teams and are now beginning to search the communal front and back gardens in Dorchester Avenue.
10:18 am
Plainclothes police officers return to Alexander Pacteau's address


  As we mentioned previously, police have spoken to 21-year-old Alexander Pacteau in relation to Karen's disappearance.
It is understood he has told police she left The Sanctuary nightclub with him and they went back to Mr Pacteau's where they had consensual sex.
Mr Pacteau is not being treated as a suspect. His mother told the Daily Record he had nothing to do with Karen going missing.
Two plainclothes officers arrived at his address on Dorchester Avenue at around 9.30am this morning.
A police helicopter has also been seen hovering over Dawsholm Park this morning.
10:10 am
'Sensible' Karen Buckley had only recently moved to Glasgow


Career-focused: Karen Buckley, 24, had only recently moved to Glasgow from Essex
Karen Buckley, described as a 'sensible' girl by her father John, only moved to Glasgow in January in preparation for a masters degree in Occupational Therapy.
Previously, she had been working as a nurse at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, after studying for a degree at the University of Limerick in her native Ireland.
She is originally from Cork and has three older brothers.
Her local priest Father Joe O'Keeffe said the local community is heartbroken for the Buckley family.
"They are a highly respected and very well-liked family and everyone here is praying for Karen's safe recovery," he told the Irish Independent.
"We are doing everything we can to support them as a parish and as a community."
9:38 am
'We are extremely concerned' - Karen's dad John

Karen's parents John and Marian have flow over from Cork, Ireland, following their daughter's disappearence.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, they said they are "desperate" to get Karen home.
Her father John Buckley, 62, said her disappearance is "so out of character".
He said: "We are extremely concerned for her. We are desperate to get her back and safe with her family - she is our only daughter, we love her dearly and just want her to come home safe and sound."
9:19 am
Huge police presence as park search resumes
Unfortunately, the all-night search for Karen Buckley in Dawsholm Park did not lead to a breakthrough.
There is a huge police presence this morning back at the park as the operation resumes.
Dozens of officers were seen marching in and police will also be using specialist units including sniffer dogs and a helicopter.
It is understood the search will concentrate on Dawsholm Park once again.
9:02 am
Karen's bag and mobile phone found


  Details of Karen’s last known movements emerged yesterday after her handbag, containing her mobile phone, was found dumped at Dawsholm Park.
The park, which is heavily wooded and bounded on one side by the River Kelvin, is near Pacteau’s flat where Karen went after leaving the Sanctuary nightclub in Dumbarton Road at about 1am.
A police helicopter hovered over the park yesterday and an incident van was set up.
On the CCTV footage from outside the club, Pacteau can be seen making his way across the road from the club.
Karen follows him and they make their way along Dumbarton Road and out of view of cameras.
Pacteau has told police they went to his car parked in nearby Church Street and he drove her to his home from there.
DS JIm Kerr said: “As far as I’m aware she hasn’t been in his company for a considerable amount of time.
“From what we can see, she does not seem under duress. There are no signs of a struggle or reluctance on her part to leave the club.
“However, that does not mean something untoward has not happened to her at a later stage.”
8:34 am
Police concerned by grey car


Google Street View
The Sanctuary nightclub on Dumbarton Road in Glasgow
 Police are also keen to find out more about a grey car that was seen on the roads between Milngavie and Drymen north of Glasgow between 11am and 3pm on Monday.
Mr Kerr said: "The activity of this grey car on the Monday is something that we're a wee bit concerned about. This car has been seen at various locations on these roads and I want to know why."
He added: "We are gravely concerned that Karen has come to some harm, whether that is down to foul play, criminality or she has taken unwell or had an accident is obviously still to be established."
8:16 am
Last picture of Karen Buckley


This is the last picture of Karen Buckley taken just three hours before she went missing.
She was wearing a black jumpsuit and red high heels but wasn't wearing the jacket in this photo when she was last seen.
Karen was last seen leaving The Sanctuary nightclub on Dumbarton Road in Glasgow at 1:02 am.
Karen is 24 years old, 5'3, 8 and a half stone with black hair, styled curly and long on the night she went missing.
7:51 am
'We just want Karen home safely' - Student's family


  A handbag which officers believe belongs to Miss Buckley was found in Dawsholm Park, near Dorchester Avenue, yesterday afternoon.
The entrance to the park was later cordoned off and dozens of officers and a police helicopter began searching the area.
The family of Miss Buckley, who is from Cork in the Republic of Ireland, have flown to Scotland.
Her mother Marian said: "We just want Karen home safely, we are desperate. She is our only daughter, we love her dearly.
"If anybody has any information please come forward, we would dearly appreciate it."
7:38 am
'He's not a suspect': Mum of man left nightclub with Karen


  The mother of the man who left a nightclub with Karen Buckley in the early hours of Sunday morning insists her son is innocent.
Alexander Pacteau, 21, told police he left The Sanctuary with the nurse and had sex with her at his flat.
Forensics teams spent several hours yesterday going through his property.
Pacteau’s mother Noreen, 43, said: "As you can tell by the police reports, he is not a suspect.
"She left his property at four o’clock in the morning and she was seen by other witnesses, not Alexander.
"So he is not a suspect."
7:25 am
Police 'gravely concerned' for missing Karen


  Police searching for a student who failed to return home from a night out at the weekend have been scouring a park where her handbag was found.
Concerns were raised by friends of nurse Karen Buckley, 24, who last saw her at The Sanctuary in Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Officers have said they are "gravely concerned" for her wellbeing.
The 24-year-old was seen on CCTV talking to a man outside the nightclub and police said he is now "helping them with inquiries".
Detective Superintendent Jim Kerr, from Police Scotland's major investigations teams, stressed at a press conference yesterday that the man was "not a suspect".
The man has been named locally as 21-year-old Alexander Pacteau.
He told police he took Karen back to his flat in Dorchester Avenue and they had sex before she left at 4am.
He said she was fine when she left and he believed she had arranged transport home.
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