Lillia Valutyte – Dramatic moment armed cops swoop on suspect, 22, as he’s arrested for murder of girl, 9, as she played

THIS is the moment armed police hunting the killer of nine-year-old Lillia Valutyte arrested a man yesterday following a dramatic chase.

At least 20 cops converged on an address a stone’s throw from the spot where the little girl was killed with a single stab wound.

But the man they tried to detain bolted as they arrived — sparking a chase through gardens in Boston, Lincs, which ended when he was hunted down by a police drone.

One witness, antiques dealer Nedas Mikelionis, 24, told The Sun on Sunday: “The street was suddenly filled with police running everywhere.

“Five police cars arrived and at least 20 officers piled out including some who were armed.

“The guy they were after ran for it and police came pouring out of the house they had gone to and leapt in their cars to give chase.

“It looks as though he bolted through a back garden, then tried to escape into a park.

“But I could see a drone hovering above the whole time, which must have guided the police to him.”

Harry Potter fan Lillia was playing with a hula hoop with her five-year-old sister outside a café when she was stabbed. Their recruitment boss mum Lina Savicke, 35, was working on a laptop inside.

Yesterday’s arrest was made within hours of an appeal for assistance, as hundreds of cops combed the area around the crime scene.

Police are understood to have been acting on a tip-off when they arrived in Tunnard Street, Boston, at around 2.40pm yesterday.

The slim, unshaven suspect bolted through a garden, emerging from a property in adjacent Thorold St, where he was grabbed 200 yards from Thursday’s murder scene.

Wearing a black T-shirt, black Adidas tracksuit bottoms and trainers, he was pictured being put into a police car in handcuffs at 2.46pm.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else.

Another eye witness told The Sun on Sunday: “Locals say the arrested guy is eastern European and that the murder may have something to do with some kind of feud.”

Boston has one of the highest proportions of eastern European migrants — around 11 per cent — and is also plagued by gang crime.

Police are understood to be probing a theory the murder may have been a vendetta attack over unpaid wages — and Lillia’s mum may have been threatened before.

Tributes including Harry Potter items have been left at the scene.

School pal Tia Mills, nine, wrote: “You were the bestest friend. Hopefully you are now with the angels in a better place. You are probably watching Harry Potter.”

Two other men arrested in an earlier raid have been released after being quizzed with no further action.