Spain’s sun-kissed Canary Islands, where thousands of British holidaymakers will shortly head, have been convulsed by the disappearance of a 7-year-old boy, the second time in recent months that a child has gone missing in mysterious circumstances. More than 2,000 volunteers combed the island of Gran Canaria this weekend amid growing public fears that a paedophile could be at work on the Spanish archipelago, which is preparing to receive hundreds of thousands of Easter sun-seekers. Soldiers with sniffer dogs and police divers have joined the search for Yeremi Vargas, as security was tightened at local ports and airports. More than 10,000 posters bearing the boy’s smiling face have appeared throughout the Canary Islands and thousands of residents have gathered in town squares appealing for his safe return. Police have received hundreds of calls from people claiming to have seen the boy in places as far afield as Asturias, in the north of Spain, and even Luxembourg. An old-age pensioner reportedly put her small monthly payment up as a reward for his return. “They have taken my son and are doing something awful to him,†said his disconsolate mother, Ithaysa, who is just 24-years old and has another one-year-old baby. Family members have said they have scarcely been able to eat or sleep since Yeremi disappeared nine days ago on the archipelago’s third largest island. The mother has had to be sedated. Yeremi vanished on March 10 while playing in the street outside his home. His aunt, Milagros, described him as shy and easily frightened, insisting that he would not have gone-off willingly with a stranger. They immediately contacted the police, who stopped any boats from leaving the island and searched any that had already left when they reached their destinations. They say they are confident the boy has not left the Canary Islands. Police have appealed for people to remain calm, saying they have not ruled out any lines of enquiry. They have interviewed family members, neighbours and his teachers for leads. “No theory has been ruled out,†the police said, “from extortion to an accident, from kidnapping to a link with some type of network.†But residents of the islands off the coast of Africa already fear the worst. Last July, a 14-year-old girl named Sara Morales vanished from Las Palmas, the main city on Gran Canaria, while on her way to a shopping centre, never to be found. Police say there is no evidence to link the two cases. Edit: Hi Swift Malone! Different people react differently. Culture plays a huge role. Never mind that, just read a link regarding Madeleine (17pdr's) where there was a reference to Yeremi's Mum stating that her family had learnt a few lessons from the McCanns regarding getting media attention for their Madeleine & how she wished Yeremi would get the same worldwide media attention. Figured the least i could do was post a Q on little Yeremi in the hope that more people would learn about him. Spread the news, will you please? i know its not new news but better late than never, don't you think? Thanks... Edit: Swift, i understand what you're saying but Kate was specifically instructed by Behavioural experts not to cry & not to show emotion to prevent the abductor from getting a kick out of it. Can you imagine that kind of numbing pain? She couldn't even express her grief in the fear that her baby's abductor would get a kick out of it. And she did it. For her Madeleine. And shes blamed for it. She herself can't recognise herself in the early footage clips of herself. Can you imagine how tough that is. Seeting little Yeremi today in your link, i don't feel like smiling myself. Wouldn't it have been far far easier for her to cry loads of crocodile tears? Thats socially acceptable & expected. But then everyone would have said she's putting on a show.
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1 :
I don't think Spain is safe now for family holidays.Its scary.
2 :
This is a typical abduction, with parents and family reacting on a typical manner. If Ithaysa Suarez starts playing tennis and smiling for the press photos, I'd change my mind. I hope they really sealed off the Island, altough I know that it's conpletely impossible to do so. Gran Canaria is well known for its endless possibilities for a swift and discreet docking. About Spain being safe or not... nowhere is. This is the times we live in. The times we created with our frantic need to protect the perpretators instead of the victims. This is the age of political correctness. Why this news now, Faith? Edit@Faith: Culture, Faith? I've dealt with grieving moms from countries where theoretically, people are... cold... like Bosnia and Macedonia. Don't go there. Smiling is completely impossible. Trust me, trust the specialists: Impossible. About This Spanish kid, first on the right, second row. http://www.policiajudiciaria.pt/htm/pessoas.htm Plus this: http://www.interpol.com/Public/Children/Missing/Search/ResultList.asp?EntityName=&EntityForename=&EntityNationality=SPAIN&EntityAgeBetween=6&EntityAgeAnd=8&EntitySex=&EntityEyeColor=&EntityHairColor=&EntityFullText=&cboNbHitsPerPage=8&Search=Search
3 :
Before everyone stops travelling to Spain and Portugal - check how many kids go missing in the UK annually - we are talking 10s or thousands.
4 :
I don't think anywhere can be deemed safe, there are those who commit heinous crimes everywhere. Tragically a typical scenario abduction, and trying to imagine the parents grief is bad enough. I note the reaction of the family and that the poor mother has had to be sedated, not surprising at all for any loving parent. As to your edit, thinking about this is enough to make me ill and no matter what anyone advised, I wouldn't be able to control my deep sorrow and anguish, let alone function... Nothing can hide when a person is broken inside and losing a child would be enough to destroy. Eating, sleeping or being aware would be something of a comatose state and from what I have seen over the past year has disturbed me greatly...
