An 11-year-old girl who went missing from her home in Bolton with a “substantial amount of money” has been found “safe and well” in London, police have said.
Fatuma Kadir’s parents are said to be “incredibly relieved” after they had appealed for her to return home quickly.
The girl left without her parents knowledge on Thursday evening before travelling on several trains to get to London Euston in the early hours of Friday morning.
Greater Manchester Police have said they are now working to reunite Fatuma with her family.
The police confirmation comes after a family friend had earlier said the girl had been found in the capital.
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Fatuma was reported missing just before 10.45pm on Thursday 22 July 2021 . Pic: GMP
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Fatuma left her Bolton with a ‘substantial’ amount of money. Police issued photo
Earlier on Saturday, her father Asheem told a news conference her behaviour was “normal” before she left, adding he had “no idea what’s caused this, no idea whatsoever”.
“Why she went to London we have no idea.”
According to friends and family, Fatuma apparently aspired to move to London when she was older, and took it “quite seriously”.
The family said: “She’s quite friendly at school… she’s friends with everyone.”
Fatuma had been spotted at the London Eye at 3pm on Friday and had asked a member of the public to use their phone’s data hotspot.
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Fatuma’s mother Misra and her father Asheem had appealed for their daughter to return home quickly
Speaking before she was found, Paul Robinson, detective chief inspector with Bolton Police, said Fatuma had a “substantial amount of money with her”.
He added that the girl had told a member of the public she was 15 and was going to see her auntie in London.
Mr Robinson said on Saturday: “We are delighted to confirm that Fatuma Kadir has been found safe and well.
“She was found in London earlier today so we are now working to reunite her with her parents, who are as you can imagine, incredibly relieved.
“The last couple of days have been every parent’s worst nightmare, so I know the will agree with me when I say a huge thank you to everyone who has shared our appeal to find Fatuma. Your help has been invaluable, so thank you.
“We would now ask that their privacy be respected, so they can be together as a family.”
https://news.sky.com/story/fatuma-kadir-girl-who-went-missing-from-her-home-in-bolton-found-in-london-12363021
