Police have released CCTV images of a man they want to question over the death of a nine-year-old who was killed in the street.
Lilia Valutyte was fatally stabbed in Boston, Lincolnshire, on Thursday. She was reportedly playing with her younger sister in the street outside the cafe where her mother worked when she was attacked and killed.
Police had arrested two men, but confirmed on Saturday morning they had been released with no further charge. Officers have now released images of a man they want to speak to over the girl's death, LincolnshireLive reports.
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Chief Superintendent Martyn Parker said: “Our officers have been working round the clock on this investigation, and the public’s help may prove crucial.
“These are very clear images of a man we want to speak to, so I’d urge anyone with information to get in touch with us. If you see him, do not approach him but immediately call 999.
“This is a particularly tragic case and I’d like to reassure the public that we have a huge amount of resources dedicated to the investigation.
“We continue to provide support to the family of Lilia, as they grieve following this unimaginable loss.”
Residents spoke of their horror after Lilia's death.
A resident from the area told the Telegraph: “The little girl was playing in the street with her younger sister when it happened. They had some toys out.
“I’m sure her mum wouldn’t have been far away as she always checked on them. She was a very quiet girl, and I just can’t understand it.
“I didn’t see what happened, but we were told they (police) were looking for footage of a man running away.” Another resident described the incident as a "parent's worst nightmare".
The Mirror reports Lilia's mother was reportedly watching her girls play through the window of the café while she worked. She was the first on the scene after the stabbing, rushing to her daughter's side.
A local told The Sun: “Her mum had a business inside. She worked from a desk on her laptop and had been doing it for a couple of months.
“It’s only a quiet street so she would let them play outside. I think they had a hula-hoop and dolly’s pushchair. I’m sure she would have been inside.”
A doll's pushchair was left lying in the road next to paramedic equipment following the stabbing. Taxi driver Jonathan Newton, 55, said: "We are a close knit community here and the town is rocked to the core by this tragedy.
"She was just a little girl, how could anyone do this to a nine-year-old? It's the most shocking tragedy to ever befall our little town. I'm just speechless."
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