.Miss Lawrence was last seen in 2009 and is thought to have been killed
- .University chef vanished and is believed to have been killed in her home
- .Family man in his fifties is being questioned and is in police custody
- .Detectives are searching the suspect's home but have not found a body
- .Her father Peter said he was 'encouraged' about the arrest after appeal
A married man in his fifties has today been arrested on suspicion of the murder of missing chef Claudia Lawrence.
North Yorkshire Police are searching the suspect's home in York, which will continue for several days, the force said.
But detectives said they have not found Claudia's body, who vanished on Thursday March 19 2009.
Neighbours in the quiet suburban street said the arrested man, the second held on suspicion of Claudia's murder in the past year, is believed to be married with children.
He is being questioned at an unnamed police station and remains in custody.
Investigation: Police today search the York home of a family man in his fifties after he was arrested on suspicion of murdering Claudia Lawrence. He is being questioned in police custody
Claudia’s father Peter said today he was ‘encouraged’ by the development and asked people to come forward if they know anything about his daughter’s disappearance.
It came days after police released new CCTV footage which shows two people walking near her home on the evening she vanished six years ago.
MailOnline understands that the man's arrest came as a result of that appeal. He cannot be named because police say his identity is key to the investigation.
Arrest: A man in his fifties has been held on suspicion of murdering Claudia Lawrence six years ago
Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, head of North Yorkshire Police's Major Crime Unit and the senior investigating officer in the Claudia Lawrence inquiry, said: 'To ensure the investigation and legal process are not compromised or potentially damaged in any way during this critical phase in seeking the truth about Claudia's disappearance, North Yorkshire Police strongly advises the media and members of the public against identifying the man who has been arrested.
'This includes naming or publishing images of the man on traditional media platforms or social networking sites.
'I urge everyone to show restraint and patience while we carry out these very important enquiries.'
Police said last week they were unravelling the 'lies and relationships' in missing chef Claudia Lawrence's life to solve the baffling six-year mystery indicated yesterday she may have been attacked in her own home after all.
Previous appeals have focused on sightings that suggested something happened to her while walking to work for an early shift at the University of York.
But last month the inquiry took an intriguing twist with a painstaking new search of the alleyway at the back of her terraced house in Heworth Road, York.
Acting on a specific lead a specialist team, supported by a police sniffer dog, carried out a fingertip search of the 10ft wide muddy alley.
They lifted up flagstones, sifted through shrubs and grass and scoured the area for a clue - such as a tiny item of jewellery - that could have been hidden all this time.
Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn said his 20-strong team was working on several 'active leads'. He added: 'I know people have lied to us. Factually that's correct. People lie around relationships and that's all I am prepared to say at this moment.'
Appeal: It came days after police released new CCTV footage which shows two people walking near her home on the evening she vanished. It is understood the arrest is linked to this appeal
The footage shows an area near an alleyway at the rear of Miss Lawrence's terraced house, which was searched by police last month and is said to be of 'growing significance' to the investigation
Miss Lawrence's 41st birthday would have been at the end of February.
Today her father Peter Lawrence said: 'It is encouraging to know that, following all the media activity over the last three weeks, from Claudia's 41st birthday to the sixth anniversary of her being missing, North Yorkshire Police continue to be active in seeking answers as to what has happened to Claudia.
'It is to be hoped that the matter can be resolved as soon as possible and I encourage people to continue to come forward with information to the police.'
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