Police Launch Excavation at Leicester Property in Search for Missing Man
Leicestershire Police have initiated a large-scale excavation operation at a property in Leicester as part of an intensive investigation into the disappearance of Gary Piatek, a 60-year-old man who has been missing since April 2024. Authorities have arrested eleven individuals on suspicion of murder in connection with this case, marking a significant development in the ongoing inquiry.
Details of the Investigation and Arrests
In a statement released on Thursday, February 12, 2026, police confirmed that digging has commenced at an address on Broad Avenue in Evington, located east of Leicester city centre. The operation involves building machinery and specialized digging teams conducting a thorough search of the site. Detective Inspector Michael Chandler, the Senior Investigating Officer from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, emphasized that this inquiry is not linked to terrorism and appealed for public assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding Mr. Piatek's disappearance.
Officers have expressed grave concerns, stating there has been "no proof of life" of Mr. Piatek since April 2024. Specialist support is being provided to several of his close friends during this distressing time. The police have warned local residents to expect a substantial increase in police activity at the property over the coming days and weeks, including the presence of specially trained search officers, crime scene investigators, and additional machinery.
Status of Those Arrested
Of the eleven people arrested, nine remain in police custody as of Thursday. This group includes six men aged 61, 43, 34, 33, 25, and 21, along with two women aged 34 and 29, all detained on suspicion of murder. Additionally, a 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and is also still in custody.
Two men, aged 25 and 23, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, have been released under investigation while inquiries continue. A 23-year-old woman arrested for the same offence has been released from custody with no further action to be taken at this time.
The investigation continues to unfold as police work diligently to uncover the truth behind Mr. Piatek's disappearance, with the excavation at the Leicester property being a critical component of their efforts.
