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Cleo Smith found: Basil Zempilas calls for Perth to turn blue to thank WA Police

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Ben AndersonThe West Australian
VideoFULL PRESS CONFERENCE: Police Commissioner Chris Dawson, along with detectives who found Cleo Smith spoke of their elation, tears and hard work which found Cleo Smith alive in Carnarvon.

Perth’s Lord Mayor has called for the city to “go blue” to thank the WA Police officers who found missing four-year-old girl Cleo Smith.

Police found Cleo this morning after smashing down the door of a locked house in Carnarvon 18 days after she went missing from the Blowholes campsite.

The amazing rescue prompted an outpouring of joy across Perth and Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas announced Council House would be lit up in blue in a tribute to the police officers.

“Thank you WA Police for your incredible efforts to find Cleo and reunite her with her family,” said he said.

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By this afternoon that thank you had grown, with plans to light up the Bell Tower, Optus Stadium, Elizabeth Quay, Yagan Square and Perth Concert Hall.

Mr Zempilas also urged other building owners to join the tribute.

“Can your building go blue to say thank you?”, he wrote on Twitter.

At least two buildings on Adelaide Terrace will be putting on light displays to celebrate Cleo’s safe return.

The VUE tower at 63 Adelaide Terrace will be lit up in pink while the Fairlaines amphitheatre at 181 Adelaide Terrace will display the message “Welcome Home Cleo.”

Richardson Strata Management director Karen Richardson said a relative of the Smith family worked for them and there were tears of relief in the office this morning.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson broke down upon learning the news of Cleo’s safe return, describing it as one of the proudest days in his 45 years of service.

His deputy Col Blanch likened the investigation to looking for a needle in a haystack.

More than 100 officers were assigned to the police taskforce. Investigators worked tirelessly, processing thousands of calls to Crime Stoppers, identifying and eliminating possible suspects and searching places of interest.

A 36-year-old man from Carnarvon was in custody on Wednesday and was being questioned in relation to the suspected abduction.

Police say he has no connection to Cleo’s family and was not present at the house when Cleo was found.

With AAP

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