Northern Ireland

Family of missing Chloe Mitchell appeal for information about her whereabouts

Chloe Mitchell, 21, who was last seen in the early hours of Saturday June 3 in Ballymena town centre. Picture by PSNI/PA
Chloe Mitchell, 21, who was last seen in the early hours of Saturday June 3 in Ballymena town centre. Picture by PSNI/PA Chloe Mitchell, 21, who was last seen in the early hours of Saturday June 3 in Ballymena town centre. Picture by PSNI/PA

The family of a missing Co Antrim woman have appealed for anyone with information about her whereabouts to come forward.

Chloe Mitchell (21) from Ballymena has been missing for almost a week.

She was last seen on CCTV in the early hours of June 3 in Ballymena town centre.

A 26-year-old man was arrested in Lurgan, Co Armagh, on Thursday, as police confirmed that a criminal investigation has been launched.

Searches took place yesterday along the Braid River in the Co Antrim town.

Ms Mitchell's brother Philip urged anyone with information to contact the family.

"Words just can't describe it, I am broke," he told BBC NI.

Police on Thursday directed the search and rescue team to a section of the river in the Castle Gardens area of Ballymena that included an embankment with an 18-feet drop.

Search and rescue teams at Braidwater Retail Park in Ballymena. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA
Search and rescue teams at Braidwater Retail Park in Ballymena. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Search and rescue teams at Braidwater Retail Park in Ballymena. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA

Several Community Rescue Service vehicles including a specialist lowland search unit attended the site.

Darren Harper, district commander for Community Rescue Service, said search efforts had allowed them to eliminate some areas.

"Today's search is going to be just a continuation on from the search areas yesterday, just eliminating the areas that Chloe may not be in," he said.

Ground teams searched the areas around the river but also close to a property in James Street, near to Ms Mitchell's last known whereabouts, which has been cordoned off by police.

Police were knocking doors in the search areas around the river, asking residents if they were at home last Friday evening into Saturday morning and enquiring as to if they had CCTV at their property.

Superintendent Gillian Kearney said police are treating Ms Mitchell as a "high-risk missing person".

She said she was appealing directly to the missing 21-year-old to make contact with the police, family or friends.

"I am also asking the public to contact us if they have seen Chloe," the police officer said.

"I know she was last seen by family on Friday June 2 and then she is captured in the late hours of June 2 and the early hours of Saturday the 3rd in Ballymena town centre on CCTV.

The investigating officer said it "out of character" for Chloe to not be in contact with her family.

"They are being supported by specialist officers during this worrying time," she said.