Teenager Ela Kostepe home safe, father thanks community “a million times” for their help

Ela Kostepe, who went missing from her East London home on Wednesday, has been found safe and well, and she is back with her family.

Tuncay Kostepe, the father of the. fourteen year old girl, confirmed the good news to T-VINE on Friday night:

“She is back home, thank you to everyone who helped look for her and who shared our appeal.”

Ela’s family had launched a missing persons appeal on social media on the day she disappeared from her Leytonstone home, which was shared by hundreds of people. Her father said it was through the efforts of the community that his daughter was found.

“One lady in Tesco saw her shopping there and took her photo and let me know. I let the police know but they didn’t manage to get to her. I thought we’d lost her trail,” Mr Kostepe said.

“We kept getting news of sightings of her. Today [Friday] morning she was spotted getting on a bus and a lady sent her daughter to talk to Ela,” he added.

“God bless you all a million times,” the relieved father-of-three said.