An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Police vehicles and officers present at Broad Avenue in Evington, Leicester

TWELVE people have been arrested as part of a murder probe into the disappearance a man who vanished almost two years ago.

Cops will begin digging at an home in Leicester, Leicestershire, in the coming days and weeks as the “lengthy” investigation continues.
Two police officers standing on a residential street during a police operation with multiple police vehicles and officers visible in the background.Cops will begin digging at an home in Leicester, Leicestershire, in the coming days and weeksCredit: leicestershire Live/BPM Media
According to police, the man, aged in his 60s, was last seen in April 2024 and there has been no proof of life since.

Eight men, aged between 61 and 21, and three women, aged between 34 and 23, have now been arrested on suspicion of murder.

A ninth man, 50, has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Detectives from Leicestershire Police’s Murder Investigation Team made the arrests yesterday morning.

Cops will also be carrying out searches of a home on Broad Avenue.

The force confirmed specialist teams will be digging into the ground at the address – with a “significant” police presence in the area.

There will also be activity in connection with the probe at properties in nearby Evington – on Gwendolen Road and Falmouth Road.

Det Insp Michael Chandler, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, described the investigation as “lengthy and complex”.

He said: “As part of our investigation, we will be carrying out a thorough search of an address at Broad Avenue in East Leicester.

“There will therefore be a significant amount of police activity at this address over the coming days and weeks, including specially trained search officers, building machinery and crime scene investigators.

“The searches will include digging into the ground at the property.

“This police activity is very much to help us in determining what has happened. There is nothing to suggest the wider community is at risk.

“Our efforts in finding information is very much focused at this time on the address in Broad Avenue.”

The force has urged anyone with information that could assist its enquiries to come forward.
Police vehicles and officers present at Broad Avenue in Evington, Leicester.Twelve people have been arrested as part of the murder probeCredit: leicestershire Live/BPM Media