Missing Finnish tourist is found safe in church after ten-day search
A FINNISH tourist who sparked a major police investigation when she vanished without trace ten days ago has been found.
Riina Elisabeth Sjögren was last seen in Edinburgh city centre on Tuesday night.
It was later discovered she had bought a ticket to fly to the Netherlands but, despite going through security checks, did not board the plane. Her disappearance left her family ‘sick’ with worry.
However, following a nationwide appeal the 38-year-old was found yesterday in St Mary’s Cathedral in the city’s Palmerston Place.
Miss Sjögren, a seasoned traveller, had spent Christmas with her mother and sister in Helsinki before flying to London Gatwick, arriving on January 7. Receipts in her belongings show she boarded a train to Edinburgh the next day, then a tram to the city’s airport.
The theology teacher spent hours there before returning to the capital, visiting Edinburgh Castle.
The following day she returned to the airport in the early hours, bought a ticket for a flight to Amsterdam and passed through security.
However, Miss Sjögren never boarded the flight but left her coat and bag at a security gate, walked from the airport to Gogarburn tram stop and took a tram to the centre of Edinburgh, where CCTV captured her last known movements.
Yesterday close friend Marjo Moilanen posted on social media: ‘On behalf of the family and friends, I would like thank everyone who helped finding our dear friend.’
Meanwhile, another woman has been reported missing from the city.
Tracy Simpson was last seen in Grange Loan on Thursday but has links to Bonnyrigg, Midlothian.
The 42-year-old diabetic has since failed to make contact with anyone and concern for her welfare was yesterday growing as she is not believed to have medication with her.
She is 5ft 2in tall, slim with long, reddish-brown hair.