Authorities are urging homeowners in western Sydney to check their back yards as they ramp up search efforts for a missing 12-year-old boy who has Down syndrome and autism.
Hussein Al Mansoory was last seen running from Auburn Memorial park in western Sydney towards the intersection of Station Road and Rawson Street on Saturday morning.
Al Mansoory was sighted again on Saturday night by an Auburn resident who called the police. The resident tried to approach the boy but Al Mansoory was frightened and walked away.
Police and the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) said they were particularly concerned about the 12-year-old’s welfare, given the extreme heat.
Police hold serious concerns for the boy and said his family were “distraught”.
Insp Mark Wakeham said police were searching the surrounding streets and hoped the boy had not gone far. They are “hopeful he is still in the vicinity and, as a result, we are asking members of the community if they can please keep a lookout for him”, Wakeham told reporters.
“We believe he is scared. He may walk away from members of the community if approached. If that is the case, please contact triple zero immediately.”
Can you help us find 12-year-old Hussein?
— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) March 9, 2024
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Wakeham asked locals to check their back yards and garages.
“If any local residents can search their yards, their sheds, their garages, that will be greatly appreciated and if he is sighted please contact Crime Stoppers.
“We have numerous resources, assisting from SES and numerous police resources. Every resource we can deploy is being deployed.”
Police checked footage at the local railway station and do not believe Al Mansoory caught a train.
The NSW SES had over 50 volunteers combing the area for Al Mansoory on Sunday, with the unit’s commander, Jamie Newman, saying the weekend’s hot weather was a concern.
“Today will be quite warm, over 30C. We hope he has gone to ground somewhere and he is trying to stay out of the heat. Our volunteers will search everywhere.”
Both police and the NSW SES said the search was made more difficult by Al Mansoory being non-verbal and non-responsive.
“It’s made things more difficult for us. Our volunteers are trained in land search techniques, so they will use all the resources they have available and all their skills and training to put that into play to try to make contact with him,” Newman said.
