Police have only received a small number of calls since launching a public appeal for information into the death of a London woman whose body was found on the outskirts of Edinburgh last month.
Saima Ahmed was discovered on the afternoon of Saturday the 9th of January off Gogarstone Road resulting in a major investigation involving a detailed forensic examination of the area.
The family of the 36-year-old had reported her missing to the Metropolitan Police Service on the 31st August 2015.
It is believed she had travelled by train to Edinburgh on Sunday the 30th of August 2015 however it is unclear as to why she journeyed to the Capital and the events that led up to her death.
Last week, the detective leading the inquiry issued a UK-wide appeal for information.
Today, Detective Chief Inspector Martin MacLean who is Head of Crime Operations for Edinburgh CID said: “We have received only a small number of calls since we launched our appeal last week which demonstrates the challenges we continue to face given the amount of time that has passed since Saima was reported missing.
“Saima’s death remains unexplained as we continue to carry out various lines of inquiry.
“We’re committed to doing everything possible to establish the circumstances surrounding her death and I thank the people who have come forward thus far.
“Today, I again ask anyone who has information that might assist with our ongoing investigation to contact police immediately.
“There are a number of matters we are working hard to establish and I believe the public will hold the answers. Even the smallest piece of information could have a huge impact in the wider context of the investigation.
“As such, I urge anyone, particularly rail users from last August who might have seen or spoken with Saima during any journey north by rail, or anyone who spoke or saw Saima in Edinburgh, to come forward immediately or get in touch with police on 101.”
Saima is described as an Asian female, around 5ft 5ins tall, medium build, with shoulder length straight dark hair. She was last seen wearing a dark long v-neck top, black trousers, black shoes and a black jacket.
The ongoing police investigation has led detectives to believe Saima most likely travelled to Scotland by rail on Sunday the 30th of August last year.
Saima’s movements on that day are as follows:
8:30am – Oakington Manor Drive, Wembley – Saima leaves home
9:57am – captured on CCTV alone in High Road, Wembley
10:00am – High Road, Wembley – ATM outside Natwest Bank – Saima is believed to have withdrawn money from her account.
10:08am – captured on CCTV alone entering Wembley Central Railway Station
10:18am – Wembley Central Railway Station – boards a London Overground service bound for Watford Junction. She appears to have been alone.
Saima thereafter is believed to have alighted at Watford Junction and at…
11:06am – believed, but not confirmed, to have boarded a train bound for Northampton.
Her exact route after this time is unknown however police believe she may have travelled to Hemel Hempstead, Birmingham and then onto Edinburgh.
To help jog memories, Sunday, August 30th, 2015, was the penultimate day of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten was at the top of the charts. It was also around this time that “We Are Your Friends” opened in UK cinemas and X Factor had returned to our screens the day before.
Anyone with information should contact Edinburgh CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
