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A man has been arrested in connection with the death of Emma Caldwell, who went missing almost 17 years ago.
Ms Caldwell, 27, who had been working as a prostitute, was last seen between 12.30am and 1.30am on 5 April 2005, on London Road, Glasgow.
Reported missing by her family five days later, her body was found in woods at Roberton, near Biggar, around 40 miles to the southeast, a little over a month afterwards.
Willam and Margaret Caldwell, parents of Emma Caldwell, laying flowers at the spot where she was found in Lanarkshire. Pic: David Cheskin/PA
A 49-year-old man was arrested on Thursday in the city in connection with her death, Police Scotland said.
Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, the Scottish Police Authority and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have been working on the case since it was reopened in 2015, the force said.
The decision to launch a new investigation, Police Scotland said, followed a review by senior lawyers in the Crown Office and tireless campaigning by Emma’s mother, Margaret Caldwell.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Graeme Mackie, said: “Police Scotland officers have undertaken a significant amount of work re-investigating all the circumstances surrounding Emma’s death following instruction from the Lord Advocate in 2015.
“This is a complex and challenging investigation and I would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts in getting us to this point of a man being arrested earlier today.
“Emma’s family, in particular her mother Margaret, have shown incredible resilience and determination since her death in 2005 and I would like to pay tribute to that today.
Police issued a picture of a jacket similar to the one worn by Emma Caldwell but which was not recovered with her body
“We have remained in close contact with them during this investigation and officers have updated Margaret on this significant development.
“The investigation into Emma’s death continues and I would urge anyone with information, no matter how small or insignificant they might think it is, to please come forward and speak to us.
“As legal proceedings are now live we are unable to comment further.”
A picture of Emma Caldwell was projected by police onto a block of flats in Glasgow
Aamer Anwar, solicitor for the Caldwell family, said that he and Margaret Caldwell met with prosecutors and Det Supt Mackie on Thursday.
He said that Mrs Caldwell and her family are “truly grateful” to the detectives at Police Scotland and Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain’s team who have worked “tirelessly” to reinvestigate the case.
Mr Anwar added: “I also wish to pay tribute to Margaret Caldwell, a mother who through the love of a child has never given up in her struggle for justice.”
