‘Search your yards, sheds, garages,’ police urge in search for missing Sydney 12-year-old

The desperate search for a 12-year-old with Down syndrome continued around Auburn in Sydney’s west on Sunday night, as police urged residents to check backyards, sheds and garages for signs of the boy who went missing from a local park on Saturday.

Police helicopters, ground units and more than 50 NSW State Emergency Service members were involved in the search for Hussein Al Mansoory, who also has autism and is non-verbal.

12-year-old Hussein Al Mansoory has been missing since Saturday morning.Credit: Police media

Inspector Mark Wakeham from the Auburn Police Area Command told a press conference on Sunday that Hussein’s family were “distraught”, and asked residents in the area to help in the search.

“If any local residents can search their yards, their sheds, their garage, that would be greatly appreciated,” Wakeham said. “We believe he is quite scared. He may walk away from members of the community if approached.”

Hussein was seen running from Auburn Memorial Park towards the intersection of Station Road and Rawson Street at about 10.30am on Saturday.

An Auburn resident then reported seeing Hussein at about 9pm on Saturday on Norval Street near Hevington Road. The resident called police and tried to approach Hussein, but he was spooked and walked away.

He has not been seen since.

A police spokesman said it was not the first time Hussein had disappeared and they were searching in spots he had been found previously.

Wakeham said police were hopeful that Hussein was still in the Norval Street area, with Sunday’s search focusing on the surrounding suburban streets.

CCTV footage from Auburn Station confirms he did not board a train. The search is made more difficult by the fact that Hussein cannot communicate verbally, Wakeham said, and police were putting every effort into finding him.

“It definitely heightens our concerns for his safety,” Wakeham said. “Basically, every resource we can deploy is being deployed.”

Auburn Police Area Command is being assisted by the NSW SES, with additional support from officers from several other units including PolAir.

About 50 SES volunteers were searching until 2am on Sunday. Another 50 joined them on Sunday morning.

There was no evidence at this stage to suggest anything sinister behind his disappearance, Wakeham said.

Hussein is about 140cm tall and was wearing a white T-shirt when he disappeared.

Anyone who sees Hussein should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.