FBI Dive Team Joins Search For 3-year-old Girl Who Went Missing From Playground

The FBI underwater search team have joined the search for an Afghan girl who disappeared from a Texas playground last month. Her family reportedly relocated to the US from Afghanistan.

3-year-old Leena Sadar Khil was last seen on December 20 at the playground at her family’s San Antonio apartment complex. She had been there with her mother, who left for a short time. When she returned, Lina was gone, CNN reported on Thursday.

The network reported on Tuesday that FBI dive teams have joined the search for the young woman whose family was relocated from Afghanistan to the United States.

San Antonio Police Chief; Bill William McManus described Tuesday’s search not far from the complex as part of investigating every possible location.

“We took off from Washington DC last night and stayed here all day.”

“I wish I could be more uplifting. I know this looks like we’re on to something, but all we’re doing here is following up on leads,” McManus said. “We don’t want to leave any stone unturned. Anyhow, we get what we want. We have the potential, we are following that.”

According to the outlet, the underwater search and evidence response team will deploy specialized equipment and technology to locate the child.

Police said they have gone door-to-door at the apartment complex and looked in dumpsters and other areas. Hundreds of officers, FBI agents, and volunteers, as well as search dogs, have assisted in the effort.

Lina’s family are Afghan refugees who came to the U.S. on special immigrant visas in 2019, the San Antonio Center for Refugee Services has said.

A reward of more than $150,000 has been offered in the search for Lina, including $100,000 from the Islamic Center of San Antonio and the remainder from Crime Stoppers Fund.

For now, no one knows if she is dead or alive but we pray Leena Sadar Khil is found alive and safe.