THE heartbroken family of a man who went missing three days before Christmas is vying to hire a private investigator to give them closure.

Ahmed Nidal Dabbour, 21, left The George Hotel in High Street and took a train from Colchester to Stratford on December 22 last year.

Ahmed, from Colchester, was due to fly to Jordan in the Middle East but he never arrived.

Instead, the 21-year-old student took a further train to Dover in Kent where he was seen on CCTV in a Costa Coffee shop.

Echo: Missed - the family of Ahmed Dabbour have appealed for help in tracing himMissed - the family of Ahmed Dabbour have appealed for help in tracing him (Image: Essex Police)

Ahmed, who is of medium build and has a Middle Eastern appearance, with short black hair, brown eyes and a beard or stubble, has not been seen since.

His family are now fighting to raise enough money to fund a private investigator as a police probe continues to find no answers.


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They have launched a fundraiser bidding to rally €23,000 to fork out on the investigator’s services.

A statement reads the family is “trying to bring closure to a loved one”.

Echo: Last seen - Ahmed Dabbour was last spotted in Dover, KentLast seen - Ahmed Dabbour was last spotted in Dover, Kent (Image: Essex Police)

It continues: “Maybe for you there’s a tomorrow, or maybe for you there are one thousand tomorrows… vastly uncountable days that you can spend on creating exceptional, unforgettable and immeasurable valuable memories with everyone your heart truly desires.

“Unfortunately for some of us that’s not the case and maybe none of us should take those moments for granted as with a blink of an eye.”

The family added they hope the fundraiser reminds people to “cherish loved ones in the present” as “we never know what might happen.”

CCTV images have been distributed by Essex Police and Kent Police to familiarise the public with Ahmed’s appearance.

Echo: Disappearance - Ahmed Dabbour left The George Hotel in Colchester High Street on December 22 last yearDisappearance - Ahmed Dabbour left The George Hotel in Colchester High Street on December 22 last year (Image: submitted content, but fine to use)

A Kent Police spokesman said: “Following initial inquiries, officers believe Ahmed was last in the Dover area and there are growing concerns for his welfare.

“It is believed that Ahmed was wearing a khaki jacket, blue jeans, and black trainers with white soles at the time of his disappearance.

“Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact police as soon as possible by calling 999 and quoting 10-0802.”

You can find the fundraiser via bit.ly/3JDS1Wz.


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