A 13-year-old girl from Bolton who went missing in Manchester has been found safe and well, eight days after her disappearance.
Lillia was located in Manchester city centre and is now with officers from Greater Manchester Police. Her family has been informed.
GMP thanked everyone who shared its appeal and said: “We can confirm that she has been found safe and well in the city centre. She is currently with our officers, and her next-of-kin have been informed of this update.”
The force said it would release more information in due course.
Lillia was reported missing by her family on September 11 after she was last seen at a city bus station. Her last confirmed sighting was at Manchester Piccadilly bus station at 10.36am on Monday, September 14.
Police said CCTV showed her wearing a black zip-up hooded top, dark trousers and carrying a black Nike backpack. She is believed to have travelled on the number 36 bus from Salford before getting off at Piccadilly.
Officers also identified footage showing Lillia at a McDonald’s on Market Street, near Piccadilly Gardens, at about 8.20pm on Sunday. She had previously been seen at the Trafford Centre on Saturday afternoon, where she boarded a 247 bus towards Altrincham.
During the appeal, Lillia’s mother, Jessica, issued an emotional plea for her daughter to return home. Her statement, read by Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley, said: “Lill, I love you so so much. My heart is breaking without you here. I need to know you are safe. We all need you back home safe and well.”
Lillia’s aunt Nina said the teenager had no phone, very little money and only her rucksack with her. She appealed to anyone with Lillia to tell her “that she isn’t in trouble and once home everything will be ok”.
Before Lillia was found, GMP said officers had been examining hours of CCTV footage and exploring every possible line of inquiry across Greater Manchester, while keeping open the possibility that she had travelled outside the area.
