On Air Now Josh Beaven 10:00am - 2:00pm Ultra Nate - Free Schedule

Amelia Bambridge: Six men questioned over missing British backpacker in Cambodia

Six men are being questioned as up to 150 police and military personnel search for a British backpacker who disappeared from a beach party in Cambodia.

The men are all Cambodian and some work in bars and hotels on Koh Rong island where Amelia Bambridge, 21, was last seen in the early hours of Thursday.

Provincial deputy police chief Nop Panha said on Tuesday the men are being questioned as witnesses at police headquarters in Sihanoukville in the neighbouring province - and they have not been arrested.

A total of 147 police, navy and military personnel have been joined by volunteers who are searching both the mainland and sea for the Briton, from Worthing in Sussex.

Sniffer dogs are also about to be brought in to scour the island, Sky News understands.

Police earlier said they believed the backpacker had drowned as she was last seen at a party at Police Beach, and her handbag was found on the beach with her purse, phone and bank cards.

But her father Phil Bambridge told Sky News he believes she was taken and is inland after he combed through CCTV of the night she went missing.

Mr Panha said: We don't know yet whether it is a case of drowning, a case of getting lost in the forest, a case of murder, we have not received any information yet.

Sky's southeast Asia correspondent Siobhan Robbins joined one of the many search boats.

She said: Large swathes of this island are totally inhabited, thick jungle going to a rocky coastline into the sea.

We understand dogs are going to be brought in to the search soon.

We've been on a boat brought in by a local businessman and there are divers nearby.

We've been talking to a local fishing boat to see if they know anything because so far this search has brought up nothing.

Ms Bambridge's father, mother and brother arrived in Cambodia on Sunday to join in the search.

Her brother, Harry Bambridge, said earlier he was feeling a little bit more positive after a meeting with police.

In a Facebook live he said: So, we've just finished our meeting this morning at the police headquarters on the mainland.

Police have let us know that their plans are moving forward and also said they are not going to stop until she is found so I'm feeling a little bit more positive.

[embed]http://ooyala.news.sky.com/NzbDJwaTE6O5JxNokbPOTxRDLx_LSBdf/DOcJ-FxaFrRg4gtDEwOjM3NjpvMTE79t[/embed] (c) Sky News 2019: Amelia Bambridge: Six men questioned over missing British backpacker in Cambodia

More from Sussex News

Your News

It’s easy to get in touch with the More Radio News team.

Add you phone number if you would like us to call you back