London: Fears are growing for the wellbeing of two 12-year-old girls who went missing after walking to a bus stop in north London.
Wiktoria Popiel and her friend Vitalija Sidlauskaite were reported missing when they failed to return home from the Wood Green area of north London at 5pm on Saturday.
As police stepped up searches for the pair on Sunday morning, detectives described their disappearance as “completely out of character” for both girls.
Popiel had been walking her friend Sidlauskaite to catch a bus on Lordship Lane, a busy main road near the White Hart Lane football stadium, but failed to return home.
Extremely concerned
Police said the pair may have got on a W3 or a 217 bus towards Tottenham or might have gone to the ice rink at Alexandra Palace.
The two 12-year-olds had been missing for 17 hours overnight when police issued fresh pictures of them on Sunday morning.
Scotland Yard said: “Their families and police are extremely concerned for their welfare and urge anyone who sees them or who has information about their whereabouts to call police on 101.
“Wiktoria Popiel is 12 years old and was wearing glasses, a brown jacket with fur around the hood, blue jeans and blue Adidas trainers. Wiktoria speaks English and Polish.
“Vitalija Sidlauskaite is also 12 years old and was wearing blue jeans and a black jacket. Vitalija speaks English and Russian.”
