Hunt for US teen who flew to London to meet older man

BRITISH and American police are attempting to locate a 16-year-old girl who flew from New York to the UK over the bank holiday weekend, reportedly after being in contact with an older man.

Metropolitan Police officers have spoken to Victoria Grabowski’s family and are treating the case as a missing persons investigation. The force said: “The Met was contacted by the National Crime Agency regarding a 16-year-old US citizen who is believed to have travelled to the UK via Heathrow Airport on Saturday, August 24.

“She is being treated as a missing person and inquiries to find her are ongoing.

“Met officers have been liaising with her family and will also be speaking with the New York Police Department.”

Miss Grabowski, from Queens, took a flight from John F Kennedy Airport and arrived in London on Monday morning.

US media reports say her parents discovered texts showing that she had been communicating with an older man in Britain.

She had also paid for her ticket in cash, though her parents did not know how she acquired the money.

“She was last seen at her home on Saturday. She left JFK airport the same day and reached the UK on Monday morning,” a New York Police Department spokesman said.

“We’re working in conjunction with UK police, but unless she contacts us, we’re not going to know too much more.”

Reports from the US said that Miss Grabowski is a Polish citizen and used her Polish passport to board the flight. She is described as white, 5ft 3in, with blue eyes and blonde hair.

Flight: Victoria Grabowski