Police Stress Commitment to Thoroughly Investigate Sara Sarif’s Death Following Video

Published on: 6 Sep, 2023
Updated on: 6 Sep, 2023

Surrey Police have this evening stressed their determination to continue with their investigation of the death of a young girl found in Horsell, Woking in August.

They emphasised the complexity and sensitivity involved because those they want to question have fled to Pakistan.

The police statement comes following the publication of a video sent to the BBC featuring Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother who, reading from a notebook, describes Sara’s death as “an incident”.

See BBC story: Sara Sharif – Dad and stepmum release video in first public comments since her death.

Post-mortem tests found Sara sustained “multiple and extensive injuries”.

Her mother Olga Sharif told Polish television she hardly recognised Sara in the mortuary because of her injuries.

This is the full police statement: “The investigation following the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif in Woking on 10 August has been fast-moving, challenging and complex.

“Following the tragic discovery of Sara’s body at her home in Hammond Road, we identified three people we wanted to speak to as part of our investigation into her death, Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and Urfan’s brother, Faisal Malik, 28.

“We were made aware this morning (6 September), of a video apparently featuring Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool that had been obtained by the UK media, in which Beinash Batool suggests that the family may be willing to cooperate with the British authorities.

“Clearly this is significant, and we have been liaising with our international partners, including Interpol, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the National Crime Agency, to determine the next steps.

“As you will appreciate, progressing these enquiries through the appropriate channels has to be handled carefully and sensitively.

“The welfare of the five children who travelled to Pakistan on 9 August is a priority for us.

“We remain absolutely committed to conducting a thorough investigation into Sara’s death. Any co-operation from the people we want to speak to will assist the enquiry.”