Police have confirmed tonight, Wednesday 18 October, that a body has been found by police searching for missing person Lee Johnston.
In a short statement, a spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said:
"Police searching for missing person Lee Johnston have located the body of a man in the Maghera area.
"Officers remain at the scene.
"More details will follow in due course."
The 21-year-old man has been missing since October 7th.
Earlier today Mid Ulster District Commander Superintendent Michael O’Loan said:
"We are continuing to search for 21-year-old Lee Johnston, from the Coleraine area, who we are treating as a high risk missing person.
"Lee was first reported missing to police on Friday evening, 13th October and we are becoming increasingly concerned about his safety. It is completely out of character for him to not be in contact with his family, who are being supported by specialist officers during this worrying time.
"We have launched a criminal investigation into his disappearance to support the missing person investigation. Two people, a woman aged 31 and a man aged 33, who were arrested have since been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
"Lee has links to the Coleraine, Ballymena, Limavady and Cookstown areas."
Superintendent O’Loan added:
"I am appealing to anyone who was travelling through the Mullagh Park area in Maghera between 3pm and 4pm on Saturday, 7th October to think if they saw Lee or anything unusual or saw following his visit to the supermarket after 5pm. If you did, please report it to police immediately.
I would also appeal to anyone with dash-cam, CCTV or mobile footage that could help our enquiries, to also make contact with police on 101, quoting reference number 1782 13/10/23.”
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers.uk.org.