Girl, 11, missing in River Thames after playing with friends named by police

An 11-year-old girl, who has gone missing in the River Thames in London, has been named. The Met Police confirmed they are search for a girl named Kaliyah Coa, who went missing on Monday afternoon, March 31.

The Met Office has also confirmed the search is now "a recovery mission". Police were called at approximately 1.20pm on Monday after Kaliyah, who had been playing during inset day, had entered the water by Bargehouse Causeway, close to London City Airport. An extensive search was conducted by the emergency services.

In a statement, Chief Superintendent Dan Card said: "Specialist officers are supporting Kaliyah's family through this deeply upsetting time and our thoughts go out to all those impacted by what has happened.

"We are committed to finding Kaliyah and are working with partners to conduct a thorough search over a wide area - utilising drone technology and boats."

He continued: "I'd like to thank the members of public, our first-responding officers, and colleagues from other emergency services, as they responded rapidly to carry out a large-scale search during a highly pressurised and distressing time."

The Met Police is now appealing for witnesses to aid them in their investigation. They said that Kaliyah's family had "asked for privacy at this distressing time".

Monday's operation in search for Kaliyah included the deployment of helicopters and boats from various agencies including HM Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and the London Fire Brigade, reports BBC News.

Local residents said that Kaliyah had been playing near the water with a young boy and girl. They said they had heard shouts and screams, and that other children playing in the area had said that a girl had disappeared in the water and that they could not find her.

A woman, who later discovered a pair of shoes, a sock, a coat and a phone by the riverbank, attempted to use a life ring but was unable to spot Kaliyah.

Bargehouse Causeway, a concrete slope leading directly into the River Thames and used for boat transportation, was highlighted by some locals as being covered in moss and notably slippery, reports BBC News.

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