News

Human remains found in search for missing woman murdered 12 years ago

Her family have paid tribute.

Daisy Jackson - 26th February 2025

Human remains have been discovered in the search for missing woman Rania Alayed, who was murdered in a flat in Salford in June 2013.

While Rania’s husband, Ahmed Al-Khatib, from Gorton, was found guilty of her murder, her body had sadly never been recovered.

Al-Khatib was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years imprisonment back in June 2014, a year after his wife’s death.

Yesterday, officers searching for Rania’s body found human remains in Thirsk in North Yorkshire after receiving new information.

GMP officers discovered the remains by the A19 in Thirsk, where a scene will remain in place for the coming days.

While no official identification has yet taken place, it’s ‘strongly suspected’ that the remains are that of Rania and her family have been informed.

They are being supported by specially trained officers.

Rania’s son, Yazan, speaking on behalf of their family, said: “The discovery of my mother’s remains more than a decade onwards has come as a surreal surprise to me and my family.

“At last, being able to provide a final resting place is all we have wanted for the last 11 years, to have the ability to lay down a few flowers for my mother is more than I can ask for from this world.”

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Higginson, from Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team, said: “More than a decade after her murder, we now strongly believe we have located Rania’s body and are finally able to provide closure to her family, who we know have endured so much pain and grief over the years.

“Rania’s family have always been kept informed following our searches over the last few years, and we are providing them updates as we get them following this most recent development.

“Her murder was utterly horrific and not knowing where her body is has inflicted further pain to all those who knew her. I hope that we are now able to finally reunite her with her family, where she belongs, so that they can give her a proper resting place.”

Featured image: GMP