Police searching for missing Loughborough man Shahab Uddin have discovered a body near the A6 at One Ash roundabout, bringing a tragic end to an intensive week-long search operation that involved specialist teams, drones, and hundreds of volunteers.
The body was found in an area close to the major junction between Loughborough and Quorn on Thursday afternoon by officers searching the vicinity. While formal identification is yet to take place, the family of 40-year-old Mr Uddin have been informed and are receiving support from specialist Family Liaison Officers from Leicestershire Police.
Mr Uddin was reported missing from the Loughborough area during the early hours of Wednesday, 13 August, sparking immediate concern from police and his family. The vulnerable man, who has learning difficulties and relies on regular medication, had last been seen in the Mill Lane area of Loughborough at around 10pm on Tuesday, 12 August.
“Sadly we have found a body in the search for Mr Uddin,” said Detective Inspector Jonathan Dickens from the force’s Missing From Home team. “While formal identification is yet to take place, Mr Uddin’s family have been informed and we are continuing to provide full support to them.”
The death is currently being treated as unexplained, with enquiries remaining ongoing as detectives work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Police have not released any further details about how the body was discovered or the condition in which it was found.
The discovery comes after an extensive search operation that mobilised significant resources across Leicestershire. Specialist search teams, drone operators, and the police helicopter were deployed in the effort to locate Mr Uddin, with volunteers from Leicestershire Search and Rescue playing a crucial role in the ground operation.
CCTV enquiries had confirmed that Mr Uddin was in the Wykes Close area of Quorn at around midnight on Tuesday, but there had been no confirmed sightings of him since that time. This led search teams to focus their efforts on the area between Loughborough and Quorn, including the vicinity of the One Ash roundabout where the body was ultimately discovered.
The One Ash roundabout, located just south of Loughborough where the A6 meets the A6004 ring road, is a major junction that has sadly been the scene of previous tragedies. The busy intersection connects Loughborough with the village of Quorn and provides access to Terry Yardley Way, part of the town’s bypass system.
Mr Uddin’s brother-in-law, Chowhan Chowdury, had spoken earlier in the week about the family’s anguish, describing how they were “absolutely broken” by his disappearance. He described Mr Uddin as a friendly man who would regularly go into town and talk to everyone he met.
“It’s very unusual, and he’s very vulnerable because he has learning difficulties,” Mr Chowdury had said, adding that the family were “absolutely baffled” as to why he might have gone missing. He suggested Mr Uddin may have simply become lost after walking in an unfamiliar direction.
Police had described Mr Uddin as Asian, 5ft 7ins tall, of broad build with short black hair. He was last seen wearing a blue and white Hawaiian-style shirt, blue jogging bottoms with white stripes on the outer leg, and grey trainers. He also wore a silver bracelet with a blue stone and a silver watch.
The intensive search operation had seen hundreds of local volunteers join professional teams in scouring the area around Loughborough and Quorn. Appeals circulated throughout the community had emphasised Mr Uddin’s vulnerability, noting that he may not have taken his essential medication for several days.
Leicestershire Search and Rescue, a charity organisation staffed entirely by emergency volunteers, had been working alongside police teams throughout the week. The organisation provides vital support to emergency services across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Detective Inspector Dickens thanked everyone who had supported the search effort, saying: “Thank you to everyone who has continued to support Mr Uddin’s family and ourselves during the search and who has provided information during the investigation.”
He added that the force’s enquiries remain ongoing and promised to provide further updates when able to do so. The discovery of the body brings to an end a search that had gripped the local community, with residents sharing appeals on social media and joining search parties to help locate the missing man.
For Mr Uddin’s family, the news marks the end of an agonising wait but the beginning of a difficult period of grief. Police Family Liaison Officers, specially trained to support bereaved families through traumatic circumstances, will continue to provide assistance as the formal identification process takes place and the investigation continues.
The Leicestershire Police Missing From Home team specialises in coordinating searches for vulnerable missing persons, working with partner agencies and volunteer organisations to maximise the chances of finding people safely. In this case, despite the mobilisation of extensive resources and community support, the outcome has tragically not been the one hoped for.
As the investigation continues, police are likely to examine CCTV footage from the area around One Ash roundabout and conduct forensic examinations to determine the circumstances of Mr Uddin’s death. A file will be prepared for the coroner, who will ultimately determine the cause of death through an inquest process.
The case highlights the vulnerability of adults with learning difficulties and the importance of community vigilance in protecting those who may be at risk. It also demonstrates the crucial role played by volunteer search and rescue organisations in supporting police operations across the UK.
Anyone with information that might assist the ongoing investigation is asked to contact Leicestershire Police on 101, quoting incident 23 of 13 August.
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