( CNN ) -- A man was charged Saturday in Wales with the murder and abduction of a 5-year-old girl , April Jones , who has been missing since Monday . Mark Bridger has also been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice , prosecutor Iwan Jenkins said . Meanwhile , the police search for April continues in and around the town of Machynlleth , in a remote corner of rural mid-Wales . Bridger , 46 , was arrested on suspicion of murder Friday . He had been in police custody since being arrested on suspicion of abduction Tuesday . He will appear before magistrates in Aberystwyth on Monday morning , Jenkins said . `` I realize that this is an incredibly difficult time for April 's family , friends and the community , '' he added . Superintendent Ian John , of Dyfed-Powys Police , said that the force remained `` totally focused and committed '' to finding April . Specialist police search teams have been scouring building in and around Machynlleth , as well as the surrounding mountainous and wooded countryside and a nearby flooded river . Hundreds of local volunteers who had been helping police in the hunt were asked to leave the search to the professionals as it became apparent that it was now a murder inquiry . April 's mother made an emotional appeal earlier this week for information leading to her daughter . She was taken from a street near her home as she played on her bicycle with a friend . Chief Constable Jackie Roberts said the investigation had been `` one of the most complex and fast moving '' in the history of the police force . She also paid tribute to the efforts of local residents who had rallied round to try to help the little girl . Prime Minister David Cameron earlier this week said the abduction was `` every parent 's nightmare . '' CNN 's Per Nyberg contributed to this report .
Police : ` ` This is an incredibly difficult time for April 's family , '' he says . John Bridger is charged with murder , child abuse . Police continue to search for the missing year - old . April Jones was abducted from a street near her home on Monday .