Police have announced a £20,000 reward for information that leads to the safe return of three missing boys – Bilal, six, Mohammed Ebrar, five, and three-year-old Mohammed Yaseen Safi. The boys disappeared on the evening of Thursday, 20 August, after being taken by their father, Imran Safi.
Officers have released an image of a man they urgently want to identify. He was seen in a red Nissan Qashqai with the registration PK13 WFO at the time the boys were abducted. The man, described as having a beard and wearing a stripy jumper, was sitting in the passenger seat when the vehicle sped away.
The red Nissan Qashqai was captured on camera near Malpit Road, Coulsdon, heading towards Coulsdon Central shortly after the abduction. Despite extensive forensic and operational efforts, the man remains unidentified. Police are urging anyone with dashcam footage from the area on the night of 20 August to come forward immediately.
Commander Bas Javid said, “I can’t imagine how distressing this whole situation has been for the three young boys. We are offering a £20,000 reward for information that will bring the children home safely.” New photographs of the boys, taken on the day they vanished by their foster carer in a Croydon park, have also been released.
Police believe that Imran Safi and the children have likely fled the UK, possibly using a secret route, but their exact whereabouts remain unknown. Commander Javid added, “Our top priority is bringing these innocent children back to the UK. We need anyone who recognises the man in the car or knows where the children and Safi are to get in touch urgently.”
Several arrests have been made as police pursue leads related to the case. On 21 August, a 25-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man were arrested in Kenley. On 23 August, three men aged 20, 20, and 17 were arrested in Croydon. On 25 August, a 25-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man were arrested in Kenley, and a 33-year-old man was arrested in Croydon. On 28 August, four men aged between 21 and 41 were arrested in Ilford. On 29 August, a 31-year-old man was arrested in Ilford and later released under investigation. A 17-year-old male was arrested in Bristol and later bailed. On 10 September, a 45-year-old man was arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap and has since been bailed.
All individuals arrested have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
If you have any information about Imran Safi or the missing boys, please contact the incident room 24/7 on 07942 599 374. To remain anonymous, you can contact Crimestoppers free on 0800 555 111 or via their secure online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. If you spot Imran Safi, do not approach him; call 999 immediately.
Originally published by UKNIP.
