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Police step up search for three missing London schoolgirls Mother critical of police amid search for missing London schoolgirls
(about 4 hours later)
Police have stepped up the search for three missing schoolgirls who are believed to be sleeping on buses and elsewhere on the London transport network. The mother of two teenage schoolgirls reported missing from their home in north London has told the Guardian she feels that no one is helping to find her daughters.
The Metropolitan police issued a missing persons appeal for Fardowsa Hassan, 13, and two sisters, Abir Salah, 16, and Ahlam Salah, 15, who are missing for the second time in two months. Laila Salah, the mother of Abir Salah, 16, and Ahlam Salah, 15, was visibly distraught when speaking about her daughters, who have gone missing along with a third girl, Fardowsa Hassan, 13. Detectives believe the girls have been sleeping on buses and elsewhere on the transport network in the capital.
The girls, from Wood Green in north London, are believed to be together. Fardowsa and Abir have been missing for 10 days, and Ahlam was reported missing on Saturday. They are not thought to have left the country and police do not expect them to try to do so, a Scotland Yard spokesman said. Speaking outside her home in Wood Green, Salah said: “Nobody is helping. Police are not helping. I can only pray to God. They are just young girls. I just want my daughters back.”
Detectives believe the girls have been sleeping on buses and elsewhere on the transport network in the capital. “We won’t go into operational reasons but we’re fairly certain that they’re on the transport network and haven’t gone abroad,” the spokesman said on Wednesday morning. The Metropolitan police issued a missing persons appeal for the three schoolgirls on Tuesday. The girls, from Wood Green in north London, are believed to be together. Fardowsa and Abir have been missing for 10 days and Ahlam was reported missing on Saturday. They are not thought to have left the country and police do not expect them to try to do so, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.
“We won’t go into operational reasons, but we’re fairly certain that they’re on the transport network and haven’t gone abroad,” the spokesman said on Wednesday morning.
It is the second time the girls have run away from home in four weeks. The three went missing in similar circumstances on 13 and 15 November and were found safe and well on 20 November. At that time, too, police said they believed the teenagers were sleeping on the transport network.It is the second time the girls have run away from home in four weeks. The three went missing in similar circumstances on 13 and 15 November and were found safe and well on 20 November. At that time, too, police said they believed the teenagers were sleeping on the transport network.
Simon Garrill, executive headteacher of Heartlands High School in Wood Green, which Fardowsa and Ahlam attend, said: “Both girls have been with us for a short amount of time following moves from local schools. We are offering all necessary support to the police in an effort to bring them home safely. Our thoughts are with the girls’ families at this difficult time.”Simon Garrill, executive headteacher of Heartlands High School in Wood Green, which Fardowsa and Ahlam attend, said: “Both girls have been with us for a short amount of time following moves from local schools. We are offering all necessary support to the police in an effort to bring them home safely. Our thoughts are with the girls’ families at this difficult time.”
Abukar Awale, a community worker in north-west London and a presenter on a UK Somali television channel, urged members of the Somalian community to help police find the girls. Abukar Awale, a community worker in north-west London and a presenter on a UK Somali television channel, urged members of the Somalian community to help police find the girls. “Our priority right now is the safety of these girls, and if anyone knows where they are or what they are thinking or any information at all, the best thing to do is contact the police,” he said.
“Our priority right now is the safety of these girls and if anyone knows where they are or what they are thinking or any information at all, the best thing to do is contact the police,” he said. “I urge people to prevent any horrible thing from happening to these girls, like perhaps if someone has brainwashed them and taken them to Isis – that would be the worst nightmare scenario.” “I urge people to prevent any horrible thing from happening to these girls, like perhaps if someone has brainwashed them and taken them to Isis – that would be the worst nightmare scenario.”
Awale said he was concerned that it was the second time in as many months that the girls had disappeared: “They are so young and so vulnerable. Unfortunately with the current climate, in the world we are living now, there are extremist people who are preying on vulnerable girls – we have to do whatever we can [to find them] and the sooner the better.” Awale said he was concerned that it was the second time in as many months that the girls had disappeared: “They are so young and so vulnerable. Unfortunately, with the current climate, there are extremist people who are preying on vulnerable girls – we have to do whatever we can [to find them] and the sooner the better.” He told the Guardian he did not believe the girls had not taken their passports with them.
Scotland Yard described Fardowsa as being of Arab appearance, 5ft 5ins and of medium build. Abir is black, of Somali descent, 5ft 10ins and of medium build. Her sister Ahlam is 5ft 5ins and of medium build. Scotland Yard described Fardowsa as being of Arab appearance, 5ft 5in and of medium build. Abir is black, of Somali descent, 5ft 10in and of medium build. Her sister Ahlam is 5ft 5in and of medium build.
“All the girls’ families are concerned for their welfare and urge them to contact them, or the police, to let them know they are safe and well,” Scotland Yard said. “All the girls’ families are concerned for their welfare and urge them to contact them, or the police, to let them know they are safe and well,” Scotland Yard said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Haringey missing persons unit on 101.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Haringey missing persons unit on 101.