A British teenager who went missing in 2017 and was found in France on Wednesday is expected to return to the UK in the “next few days”, police have said.
The Greater Manchester force say they are working with the French authorities to bring 17-year-old Alex Batty back to the UK “as soon as possible”.
The force held a news conference after Alex was found in the town of Revel, near the southern French city of Toulouse, early on Wednesday morning.
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said: “I think I speak on behalf of the whole of Greater Manchester Police when I say we are relieved and overjoyed to receive the news from the French authorities that, they believe Alex Batty has been found safe and well.
“It’s been six years since his disappearance.
“This is a huge moment for Alex, for his family and for the community in Oldham.
“Alex went missing whilst on holiday in 2017 when he was just 11-years-old.”
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He added: “The young man and Alex’s grandmother spoke in video call last night. And whilst she is content that this is indeed Alex, we obviously have further checks to do when he returns to the United Kingdom.
“Our main priority now is to see Alex returned home to his family in the UK and our investigation team are working around the clock with partner agencies and the French authorities to ensure they are all fully supported.
“Alex and his family remain our focus and we still have some work to do in establishing the full circumstances surrounding his disappearance and where he has been in all those years.
“I can only imagine the emotions they have experienced as a family throughout this ordeal.”
Where Alex had been during the last few years will be “at the heart of the investigation”, said Mr Sykes.
“We need to speak to Alex when it’s right to speak to Alex to establish the full facts.
“We have no detail of where he has been – lots of speculation – we want to speak to Alex.”
