The Metropolitan Police and Yaqub’s family have renewed an urgent appeal for information after the 16‑year‑old was last seen near Tottenham Court Road on 22 July; officers say he may be anywhere in London and are asking anyone with even small details to come forward.
Police and family appeals have intensified for a 16‑year‑old boy who has not been seen since Sunday 22 July. According to reporting from local outlets, the Metropolitan Police say they are “concerned for the welfare” of Yaqub, who was last observed near Tottenham Court Road in Camden and whose family have not heard from him since that evening. Officers say he has links to Kensington and Chelsea and to Westminster and could be anywhere in London.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarb Kaur of the Metropolitan Police’s Missing Persons Unit said in a police appeal: “We are appealing for any information on Yaqub’s whereabouts. His family are very worried about him and are urging anyone to contact police if they have heard from him. We continue to progress several lines of enquiry to locate Yaqub, but are becoming increasingly worried about him.”
When he was last seen, Yaqub was reported to be wearing grey Nike clothing, a distinctive cross‑body bag, a face mask and a black hat. Officers recorded his disappearance as occurring at about 5.30pm on 22 July and have asked anyone who thinks they may have seen him to come forward with information to assist enquiries.
The force has issued a range of contact options for people with information. Police asked members of the public to call 999 in an emergency, report sightings online or to tweet @MetCC quoting CAD8615/22JUL; the family and officers are also using a dedicated missing‑persons contact number. The appeal stresses that small pieces of information — times, locations, or social media contacts — can be crucial when a young person is missing.
Those concerned about how and when to report a disappearance are reminded of Metropolitan Police guidance that there is no requirement to wait 24 hours before contacting officers. The Met’s public advice underlines that anyone who believes the person may be in immediate danger should call 999, while non‑urgent reports can be made online or via 101 so the control room can begin enquiries and welfare checks promptly.
Charities that support families through missing‑person cases say early reporting and practical checks help the police and relieve some of the immediate uncertainty. Missing People advises relatives to check phone records, social media, local hospitals and friends, to preserve personal effects and to seek emotional support from specialist helplines while police follow up lines of enquiry.
The family and investigators have renewed their appeal for help in locating Yaqub. Police and support groups ask anyone who may have information — no matter how small it seems — to contact the Metropolitan Police immediately and to use the reference quoted in the appeal so officers can link calls to the ongoing enquiries.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is based on a press release from the Metropolitan Police, dated 22 July 2023, concerning the disappearance of a 16-year-old boy named Yaqub from Camden. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 22 July 2023. The report has been republished across various reputable outlets, including The Standard and Inkl. The presence of updated data, such as the specific time of disappearance (5.30pm) and the distinctive clothing description, suggests a higher freshness score. However, the core information remains consistent with the original press release. No significant discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The narrative has not appeared more than 7 days earlier. The update may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quote from Detective Chief Inspector Sarb Kaur, 'We are appealing for any information on Yaqub’s whereabouts. His family are very worried about him and are urging anyone to contact police if they have heard from him,' appears in the original press release dated 22 July 2023. No earlier usage of this exact quote was found. The wording matches the press release, indicating no variations. No online matches were found for this quote, suggesting it may be original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Metropolitan Police, a reputable organisation. The press release has been republished by various reputable outlets, including The Standard and Inkl. The Metropolitan Police's Missing Persons Unit is a legitimate and verifiable entity.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative reports on a missing person case, a common and plausible event. The details, including the specific time of disappearance (5.30pm) and the distinctive clothing description, are consistent with standard police reports. The Metropolitan Police's appeal for information aligns with typical procedures in such cases. The language and tone are consistent with official police communications. No excessive or off-topic details are present. The tone is appropriately urgent and formal, matching typical police appeals.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is based on a press release from the Metropolitan Police, dated 22 July 2023, concerning the disappearance of a 16-year-old boy named Yaqub from Camden. The press release has been republished by various reputable outlets, including The Standard and Inkl. The direct quote from Detective Chief Inspector Sarb Kaur appears in the original press release, with no earlier usage found. The Metropolitan Police is a reputable organisation, and the details in the narrative are consistent with standard police reports. The language and tone are appropriate for an official police appeal. No significant discrepancies or signs of disinformation were identified.