Searches have ended at two other properties connected with the investigation

Cadant Gas have begun drilling into the ground outside of the property.(Image: Samuel Kalantzis / Leicester Mercury)

Digging has begun outside an Evington property at the centre of a murder investigation which has led to multiple arrests.

Detectives and special officers from Leicestershire Police remain in Evington’s Broad Avenue this afternoon (Wednesday, February 11) as investigations continue into the murder of a man not seen for nearly two years.

The man, who is in his 60s, has not been named by police. LeicestershireLive have asked police for this information.

Twelve people were arrested on Tuesday (February 10) as part of the investigation, with officers confirming in an update that a 23-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of murder has been released with no further action to be taken.

Eight men and two women remain in custody on suspicion of murder, while a ninth man, a 50-year-old who was detained on suspicion of assisting an offender, also remains in custody.

Police have also revealed that searches at properties in nearby Falmouth Road and Gwendolen Road have “concluded”, but searches at the main site in Broad Avenue remains the focus.

Cadent Gas are still also drilling at the scene.(Image: Samuel Kalantzis / Leicester Mercury)

Specialist units including POLSA-led search teams and Tactical Support Teams are at the scene in Evington and are being supported by specialists and specialist equipment from other agencies.

Partner agencies, including Cadent Gas, are also assisting at the scene to make the property safe to allow a full search to be carried out by officers.

Senior Investigating Officer, DI Michael Chandler from the East Midlands Specialist Operations Unit, said: “Since carrying out the warrants yesterday morning there has been significant progress in this investigation, including clearing the areas of the property that we need access to and making them safe to allow a comprehensive search to be carried out.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done and detectives and Crime Scene Investigators are at the scene and will be over the coming weeks, ensuring a thorough investigation and evidence gathering.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting incident number 221 of February 9.