Three guys have been detained for kidnapping while a teenage girl has vanished from a party 175 miles from her home.
After travelling from Barnsley to London for a party, police worry that Carmelle Hepi may be with a “older man.”
The adolescent left for London over the weekend to attend a party, and on Sunday night she disappeared.
Just after midnight, her frightened family notified South Yorkshire Police of her disappearance, and they forwarded the information to the Met Police.
Since then, three men, all aged in their 20s, have been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and remain in custody.
The teenager travelled from Barnsley Station, onto Sheffield and then down to London Kings Cross St Pancras, arriving shortly after 6pm on Saturday.
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Carmelle is believed to have attended a birthday party in Peckham with a ‘small gathering of teenagers’ at around 10pm.
Around an hour later, the Met Police said she left with another group of people in a car.
She is also believed to have attended addresses in Croydon, Lewisham, and Purfleet in Essex.
Officers believe that she may be in the company of an older male.
Footage has also been released from the same day showing her entering the Primark in High Street, Croydon at around 4.45 pm, before leaving 20 minutes later.
It shows her in the pink and white jacket she may be wearing now.
Officers are said to be in regular contact with Carmelle’s family in Barnsley and have spoken to the people who were at the party.
The senior investigating officer is Detective Chief Inspector Chris Wood, who said: ‘Carmelle, I want you to know that you are not in any trouble whatsoever.
‘Our one and only focus is making sure that you are safe and well.
‘Please call 999 and speak to us, or go to a police station, and we will get you back home safely.
‘Your family are desperately worried about you and while we’re supporting them as best we can, they need to know that you’re OK and to come home. They cannot rest until you’re back with them.
DCI Wood added: ‘My team are working round the clock, supported by our colleagues at South Yorkshire Police and local officers.
‘As well as the arrests made, we have spoken to multiple people, searched a number of addresses and officers are conducting extensive CCTV enquiries, along with various other leads we are pursuing.
‘Members of the public can help us locate Carmelle. If you have seen Carmelle, or you know her and have information about where she is or has been, it is imperative that you contact us.
‘It doesn’t matter if you’re a friend who has heard or seen something in passing – you won’t be in trouble. What matters is that you contact as you could have significant information to help us find a missing teenage girl.’