Amber Alert dropped

UPDATE 5:22 a.m.

Montreal police cancelled a Quebec-wide Amber Alert in the case of a missing 10-year-old boy late Tuesday, but the search for Ariel Jeffrey Kouakou was continuing.

Police said they made the decision to lift the alert at about 11 p.m. because the criteria to maintain it was no longer being met.

A statement posted on Twitter by police urged people to "stay vigilant and report any information regarding Ariel to 911."

The Amber Alert was initially issued despite the absence of the criteria usually required for one.

"Normally, for the triggering of an Amber Alert, there is the description of a kidnapper, the description of a vanishing vehicle, information that we do not have in this case," Sgt. Laurent Gingras said.

"But we do have the fact that, since it's 24 hours, since he's only 10 years old and since we don't have any historical reports of him missing and the fact it's winter and pretty cold, that's why investigators from the Montreal police decided to issue an Amber Alert."

Gingras said it is too early to talk about a kidnapping.

---

ORIGINAL 12:02 p.m.

Montreal police have issued an Amber Alert for a missing boy.

Investigators are seeking the public's help in finding 10-year-old Ariel Jeffrey Kouakou, who was last seen on Monday at about noon.

It is believed he was headed to a friend's house.

The boy's parents live in the north-end borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville.

Police say the boy, who is black, has black hair and black eyes and is French-speaking.

Before disappearing, he was wearing a black coat with a hood, grey pants and yellow shoes.

Anyone with information is being asked to call 911 or 514-393-1133.