Missing boy found in Spain
A five-year-old boy with a brain tumour who was taken by his parents from hospital against medical advice has been found in Spain, police said.
Ashya King’s family took him from Southampton General Hospital on Thursday afternoon and travelled on a ferry to France some two hours later.
Hampshire Constabulary tonight said the seriously ill youngster has been found in Spain with his parents, Jehovah’s Witnesses Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45.
On its Facebook page, the force said: “Ashya has been found. He is in Spain with his mum and dad.
“Police are speaking to his mum and dad and we are waiting to hear on Ashya’s condition.”
A European arrest warrant had been issued for Ashya's parents after Interpol had sent out a missing persons alert to each of its 190 member countries.
Police had said “time was running out” for the youngster as the battery on his feeding system expired.
Earlier, Hampshire Constabulary Assistant Chief Constable Chris Shead said the arrest warrant was based around “neglect” but added: “That does not necessarily mean they would be charged with that offence.
“It purely gives us the power to arrest and then we’ll be able to speak to them.”
Police believed the family had travelled to Spain after revealing they had “strong links” to Marbella, where they have an apartment.
The Kings boarded a cross-Channel ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg with Ashya’s six siblings at 4pm on Thursday and arrived in France at 8pm local time.
Police were alerted more than six-and-a-half hours later – sparking a major international search.
A number of sightings were reported of the family, from Southsea, who were travelling in a grey Hyundai van.
