An 11-year-old girl who went missing after entering the River Thames has been named as Kaliyah Coa.
An “extensive search” has been carried out after the incident in east London at around 1.30pm on Monday.
Police said the youngster had been playing during a school inset day and entered the water near Barge House Causeway, north Woolwich.
A recovery mission is now said to be under way to find Kaliyah along the Thames, with the Met Police carrying out an extensive examination of the area.
Chief Superintendent Dan Card thanked teams who responded to “carry out a large-scale search during a highly pressurised and distressing time”.
He also confirmed drone technology and boats were being used to “conduct a thorough search over a wide area”.
He added: “Our 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.
“Equally we appreciate this has affected the wider community who have been extremely supportive. You will see extra officers in the area during the coming days.”
On Monday, Kerry Benadjaoud, a 62-year-old resident from the area, said she heard of the incident from her next-door neighbour, who “was outside doing her garden and there was two little kids running, and they said ‘my friend’s in the water'”.
When she arrived at the scene with a life ring, a man told her he had called the police, “but he said at the time he could see her hands going down”.
Ms Benadjaoud then said a boy who was playing with the 11-year-old girl near the Thames “said ‘I tried to hold her hand but it slipped'”.
She then added: “Apparently, she was paddling, so her socks and shoes were off, her coat, then she must have slipped and gone down.”
