Police have located items belonging to missing teenager Noah Donohoe following an appeal for information yesterday.
Speaking this afternoon, PSNI Superintendent Muir Clark confirmed that following a call from a member of the public, police have located items Noah was carrying with him including a green backpack, Lenovo laptop and a copy of the book Twelve Rules For Life by Jordan B Peterson.
The laptop is now being examined by specialist officers as a major line of inquiry in the search to find the missing 14-year-old.
Mr Clark also said a man had been arrested over a number of social media posts mocking the teenager's disappearance.
“Thanks to a call from a member of the public, we have been able to locate and recover Noah’s backpack and laptop computer," he said.
“These items are now being examined by specialist officers, for any information which may help locate Noah.
“I have previously commented about various rumours circulating about Noah’s disappearance. I explained that this type of commentary and rumour was distressing for Noah’s family and unhelpful as we continue our search to find Noah.
“Last night we became aware of social media posts. We are aware of the content of these social media posts and are content at there is no truth behind their content.
“A 26-year-old male was arrested in the early hours of this morning on suspicion of improper use of public electronic communications network and he is currently helping with enquiries."
Mr Clark said police are continuing to look for other items as part of their search for the missing teenager.
“Our search for Noah continues," he said. "We have not yet found his khaki green North Face coat and grey sweat shorts.
“We need to find these outstanding items. If anyone has found any of these items and not yet come forward, please call us immediately on 101.
“Again, I would like to thank everyone who has contacted police so far with information. If you have any information that you think might help. If you have any CCTV or dashcam footage that you think might help and have not yet come forward, please call us on 101 straight away."
Noah was last seen in the Shore Road area of north Belfast after cycling from his home in the Ormeau Road area. Officers had previously recovered his bicycle, helmet, trainers and mobile phone.
despite a huge search involving specialist officers, police dogs, air support, community search and rescue and members of the public, he has not been found.
Mr Clark said Noah’s family has been left distressed by false rumours.
He emphasised the operation is still a missing person inquiry, adding that rumours to the contrary have been “unhelpful and distressing to the family”.
He said the circumstances are “completely outside Noah’s character” and it was “still not entirely clear why Noah went to that area of north Belfast”.
“He went to school in north Belfast but at this time I can find no connection between the Northwood area and Noah’s knowledge of north Belfast,” he added.
“We have a number of hypotheses which we will continue to look at, the first, that we are majoring on at the moment is that Noah has in some way suffered an injury and is disorientated and requires assistance,” he said.
Among the locations searched has been Noah’s school, St Malachy’s College on the Antrim Road.