A body found in a storm drain in Belfast this morning has been confirmed to be that of missing teenager Noah Donohoe.
The 14-year-old was last seen in the northern area of the city on Sunday evening and he vanished after it's believed he fell from his bike and hit his head.
Superintendent Muir Clark said that while that an official identification has not been completed, they believe the body is missing Noah.
Supt Clark said the storm drain was almost a kilometre long and the specialist search team found it "extremely challenging".
"We did have access to the storm drain complex and it has been searched over the last number of days before we got to the end of the complex," he said.
"It's an extremely challenging environment in which to work and that is why it has taken the length of time to go through that complex.
"They were working in the pitch black and there was a lot of growing to cover.
"In my 30 years in the police, this is one of the most unusual missing person inquiries that I have dealt with."
The teenager was said to have taken off his clothes before he vanished, police say.
In a previous police statement, they described how a witness believes they saw Noah fall from a bike on Sunday evening.
It read: "An eyewitness believes they saw a young male matching Noah's description fall off his bicycle on Sunday evening, possibly sustaining a head injury, in the vicinity of North Queen Street/York Street, but we do not know the specific time.
"We believe Noah got back on his bicycle, cycling into Northwood Road where he then abandons all his clothing, as he is seen a short time later cycling while naked.
"We believe Noah then dropped his bicycle and left the area on foot."
Police officers were supported by air support units, police dogs and a tactical support group in the search operation.
Supt Clark appealed to the public to refrain from posting rumours about the teenager online.
"It is disappointing that I again need to call on people circulating a number of rumours about Noah's disappearance, which are completely without foundation,' he said.
"This type of commentary and rumour is distressing for Noah's family and is extremely unhelpful.
"An investigation into the circumstances of Noah's disappearance is still continuing but there is no evidence to suggest foul play.
"If people post distasteful and patently untrue rumours on social media, we will investigate that."
On Friday, officers found a bag containing the teenager's laptop, which is being examined by specialist officers.
"We're continuing to examine the electronic equipment which we have recovered and obviously that forms part of the investigation into the disappearance of Noah," Supt Clark added.
"In any electronic device there are massive amounts of information, so we continue to sift through that information, just to build the picture.
"There will be a post-mortem examination which will be conducted and that will very much, hopefully, give some answers."
He also said that shorts and a coat belonging to Noah are still missing.
