A Bradford man who disappeared five years ago has been found alive, only days after five people were arrested on suspicion of murdering him.
Ismail Ali was last seen leaving work at Gulam Food Stores on Cumberland Road in Bradford, West Yorkshire, at about 2:30 p.m. local time on May 29, 2020, according to West Yorkshire Police. He was 46 at the time he vanished.
Police said Ali walked into a station on Wednesday, Nov. 19, reporting that he was safe and well. In an update released Thursday, authorities said they are still working to understand what happened during the years he was missing.
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Ali’s family has been informed, and police said he is being safeguarded while necessary checks are completed.
The development comes after West Yorkshire Police announced on Monday, Nov. 17 that a murder investigation had been launched into Ali’s disappearance. At that time, officers from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team carried out warrants in Bradford and arrested five people — three women aged 47, 54 and 55, and two men aged 27 and 51 — on suspicion of murder.
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Even though Ali has now been located alive, police said the five individuals previously arrested are still on bail in connection with money laundering allegations. Authorities added that searches at three properties following Monday’s arrests led to the seizure of a large amount of cash, and that the financial investigation remains ongoing.
Police also thanked members of the public who shared appeals for Ali during the search.
