Alex Batty now centre of investigation as police interview boy who went missing in Spain - live
Officers have officially launched a criminal investigation into the alleged abduction of the teenager who went missing six years ago while on holiday in Spain
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Greater Manchester Police have launched a criminal investigation into the alleged child abduction of Alex Batty after the teenager was formally interviewed by officers.
The 17-year-old made headlines across the world when he was discovered walking on an isolated road in Toulouse, six years after being reported missing while on holiday with his mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather, David Batty.
He initially said he had been hiking for four days before being found.
It comes after he told The Sun that he lied over his escape from France to protect his mother and grandfather. He said: “I didn’t get lost. I knew exactly where I was going.”
The teenager also said he’d wanted to return home ot his grandmother, Susan Caruana, his legal guardian, to go to college. He said that the reunion with Ms Caruana had other family members had been emotional.
The assistant public prosecutor said Alex Batty had €100 on him when they found him.
Antoine Leroy added that he is not sure if the teenager informed his mother he was leaving.
Alex Batty ate from ‘whatever he found in the fields’ as he hiked through mountains in bid to return to UK
Toulouse Assistant Public Prosecutor Antoine Leroy told reporters Alex Batty got food from “whatever he found in the fields” as he walked for four days in the Pyrenees.
“He walked and he got food from whatever he found in the fields and the gardens and he was then found at about 3am on Wednesday by a young man,” Mr Leroy said.
Addressing what the teenager said to the student who found him, Mr Leroy added: “He explained that he was being searched for and that he wanted protection.”
French authorities give more details on Alex Batty’s life while away
Continuing to describe how Alex Batty had been living over the past six years, Assistant Public Prosecutor Antoine Leroy said: “They would work on the ego, there was meditation work - there was no connection with the real world.
“They believed in reincarnation.”
Speaking about Alex‘s condition when he was checked over by officials, Mr Leroy said: “This young man was described by the police who have seen him and by the doctors who examined him as ‘tired’ but overall in good health.
“He’s said to be intelligent even though he’s never been to school in this entire period.”
Teen’s grandfather thought to have died six months ago
Alex Batty‘s grandfather is thought to have died six months ago, French prosecutors have said.
Addressing the whereabouts of Alex‘s mother and grandfather, Assistant Public Prosecutor Antoine Leroy said: “It is possible that the mother at this time has in fact gone to Finland as she planned.
“The grandfather, who has always been with his daughter and grandson, is said to have died approximately six months ago.”
Mr Leroy said Alex took part in a “meditation ceremony” when his grandfather died.
Grandmother of ‘abducted’ teenager can’t wait to see him
The grandmother of a British teenager who was believed to have been abducted six years ago has said she “can’t wait to see him when we’re reunited”.
Alex Batty disappeared with his mother Melanie Batty and grandfather David Batty in September 2017, but is expected to return to the UK over the weekend.
In a statement issued on Friday, Alex’s grandmother and legal guardian Susan Caruana said: “I cannot begin to express my relief and happiness that Alex has been found safe and well.
“I spoke with him last night and it was so good to hear his voice and see his face again. I can’t wait to see him when we’re reunited.
“The main thing is that he’s safe, after what would be an overwhelming experience for anyone, not least a child.
“I would ask that our family are given privacy as we welcome Alex back, so we can make this process as comforting as possible.”
We’re pausing our live coverage of Alex Batty but keep checking independent.co.uk for the latest updates.
‘I’ve been lying'
“I’ve been lying to try and protect my mum and grandad, but I realise that they’re probably gonna get caught anyway,” Alex Batty told The Sun in a new interview after he was discovered after vanishing six years ago.
Contrary to the initial reports, Alex said that his actual journey was a two-day hike. He first travelled to Quillan to feign seeking directions before heading towards Toulouse.
See our story on his interview here:
Alex Batty reveals he lied about escape to protect his mother
‘I’ve been lying to try and protect my mum and grandad,’ says teen reunited with grandmother after six years
Why did he escape?
Alex told The Sun he had a desire for a more stable future and the chance to fulfil his dreams of becoming a software engineer prompted him to abandon their nomadic existence in the French Pyrenees.
Referring to the nomadic lifestyle he had been living with his mother and grandfather, he added: “I realised it wasn’t a great way to live for my future.”
He told the outlet if he stayed with his mum his life would involve “moving around, no friends, no social life. Working, working, work and not studying”.
‘I first started thinking about leaving when I was 14 or 15'
Alex Batty told The Sun he first started thinking of leaving his mother and grandfather about a year after he went missing while on a holiday in Spain with them, aged 11.
He said: “I realised it wasn’t a great way to live for my future. The cloud had lifted because I started weighing everything up again — the pros and cons of England.
“I wouldn’t know what was going to happen in my future if I were to stay with my mum, but from the past few years I could get a picture of what life would have been like.
“Moving around. No friends, no social life. Working, working, work and not studying. That’s the life I imagined I would be leading if I were to stay with my mum. It would always be the same whether it was France or Spain.
“In the mountains, in the middle of nowhere. No people my age. So when I was about 16 I spoke to grandad about going back to England.”
Mother ‘against the idea’ of going back home - Alex says
Alex Batty had spoken to his mother, Melanie Batty, about going home - but she resisted the idea, the teenager has said in his interview to The Sun.
He also said he believed she was either in Finland, or on her way. He doesn’t know the whereabouts of his grandfather, David Batty, who is alive, the 17-year-old claims.
In his interview with the outlet, he said: “My mum was against the idea [of returning to England]. She was very anti-government, anti-vax. She was worried that if I were to go back to a country and get my ID I would be put into care. Her catchphrase was becoming a ‘slave to the system’.
“She wasn’t really open to any other opinions whereas grandad is more of a listener. He was always like, ‘I want you to do what’s best for you’.
“He kept on saying every time, the reason I came with you, is so that I could make sure that you were happy and healthy with a roof over your head.”
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