STUDENT MISSING

NEARLY a week after American yeshivah student Aaron Sofer went missing near Jerusalem, police still have no leads on the circumstances of his disappearance.

The involvement of the Shin Bet in the investigation has prompted rumours of a terror link and a possible abduction. However, as yet there are no clear indications.

The 23-year-old New Jersey native was walking with a friend through the Jerusalem Forest on Friday morning when the two decided to take different paths. Mr Sofer has not been seen or heard from since.

After three days of searches in the woodland, police have suspended the physical search and are now operating via intelligence and security agencies.

Following the kidnap and murder of three Israeli teenagers in June, there have been warnings of plans by terror organisations to carry out similar attacks, but there has been no attempt so far by any group to claim responsibility for Mr Sofer’s abduction.

The area in which he went missing is not thought to be particularly dangerous and is well frequented by walkers and hikers.

The first cousin of the missing boy, Rabbi Yeshua Aaron Sofer, who lives in the UK, said: “It’s a very difficult time. We are doing everything we can and appealing to the public for any leads. We just don’t know where to turn now.”