Murder police call off moors search for missing mum

Rania Alayed, 25, has not been seen in public since the evening of June 7 and was reported missing from her home in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, nearly a month later.

It is thought she was taken in a white camper van in the early hours of June 8 from Manchester to the Thirsk area, where her body was buried or concealed.

It is believed the Leyland DAF 200 vehicle stopped at a layby on the northbound carriageway of the A19 but the exact location is not known.

An in-depth search of a 19-mile stretch of the road has been halted as police examine “other leads and intelligence”.

Detective Chief Inspector Pete Marsh, from Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said: “The search for Rania has been truly extensive and has involved hundreds of man hours from officers from two different police forces, supported by the military.

“As yet, Rania’s body has not been located and we have recently completed a three-week search phase.

“We are now moving into a further phase and are now examining other leads and intelligence with a view to restarting the physical searches when the time is appropriate.”

Ms Alayed had previously lived in Norton, Stockton-On-Tees, and moved to Manchester in January.

Her disappearance was described by police as ‘’extremely out of character’’.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating how GMP dealt with previous contact with Ms Alayed, who reported being a victim of domestic violence.

Ahmed Khatib, 33, of Knutsford Road in Gorton, Manchester, has been charged with murder and Muhanned Mahmood Al Khatib, 38, of Arthur Millwood Court, Salford, has been charged with murder and perverting the course of justice.