Happy ending after missing child found

Manama : It was a happy ending as a toddler was reunited with his family a few hours after being reported missing in the Northern Governorate yesterday.

Three-year-old Ali Al Muallem was found by the police in an abandoned building in Muqsha village, near Budaiya Highway.

“Police found a Bahraini boy, 3, in a deserted house in Muqsha, less than three hours of reporting him missing. He’s in a good health condition and necessary steps are being taken,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement issued yesterday.

The boy was apparently missing since Saturday evening. His pictures were widely circulated on local social media networks, in a desperate attempt by his family members to locate him.

DT News yesterday spoke to a Muqsha resident, who spread the news about the boy’s disappearance on social media.

“The boy, who was with his parents on a family visit in Muqsha, was last seen playing with the children in the neighbourhood. He apparently climbed into an abandoned house there and couldn’t find his way out,” said the local resident, who wished to remain anonymous.

“Unable to trace the boy, the family informed the police. I too shared his pictures online. 

“He was sleeping inside the abandoned building when the police found him yesterday. The house had no entrances and the cops had to get in through the roof,” he added.

According to the police report and the resident’s statements, the boy is in good health and he was reunited with his family shortly afterwards.

At least four child-missing cases have been reported on the Island in the last three months. These include a kidnapping case and a mistaken death case.