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12-Year-Old British Girl Found Safe After Turning Up at Yokohama Police Box

Her return ends the public search with police and consular teams now supporting the family.

Overview

  • The girl was last seen on August 12 at the family's Tokyo rental and her parents reported her missing to police the morning of August 13.
  • CCTV footage showed her walking in the Kamata district and boarding a train to Yokohama before investigators were temporarily unable to trace her movements.
  • On the night of August 15 she walked into a Yokohama koban and was taken into protective custody, telling officers she had been staying in internet cafes.
  • Her family say she left without a phone or passport and had only a few thousand yen, and investigators say she travelled to visit real-world locations linked to the anime Bungo Stray Dogs.
  • Tokyo and Yokohama police and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office are assisting the family as officials review child-safety risks for young tourists and the investigative use of CCTV and transit records.