Large search held for missing 23-year-old man on Granville Island
The family of a missing 23-year-old man held a large search party on Granville Island Sunday afternoon.
Police say Suleiman Khawar went to Mansion Night Club near West Georgia and Thurlow streets on the night of May 25 and last contacted his family around midnight to tell them he was coming home.
His brother, Atal Ali, told CTV News he was last seen heading south on Granville and Nelson streets at around 1:20 a.m.
Ali says they contacted police when Khawar failed to show up to work later that day.
"It was completely out of character for him to be gone with no contact, unable to reach him by cell phone,” he said.
Dozens attended Sunday’s search, including family, friends and other members of the community.
"We have 32 people in the water on kayaks, then we have people on the ground, they'll be headed east from Granville Island,” said Ali.
“Searching and putting up posters to keep awareness,” he continued.
Ali describes his brother as a “sweetheart” and has no idea what could have happened.
“Really, really friendly, always had a good name in the community,” he said.
“We’re just confused, there's nothing we can think of, we've exhausted every resource so far,” Ali continued.
Khawar is the second South Asian man to go missing after a night out in downtown Vancouver in the last few months, though there is no indication that the disappearances are related.
Four weeks prior to Khawar’s disappearance, on April 29, Langley resident Irshaad Ikbal went missing after a night out with friends inside Vancouver’s Harbour Event Centre at the Plaza of Nations.
The 36-year-old's body was discovered in False Creek on May 18.
The BC Coroners Service is investigating and the cause of Ikbal's death has yet to be determined, according to Vancouver police, who have launched their own investigation into the fatality.
In an email to CTV News, Sgt. Steve Addison of the VPD said, “While there appears to be similarities in their ages, ethnicity and the circumstances surrounding their disappearances, to date we have found no evidentiary links between the two cases.”
“However, we have not drawn any conclusions,” he said.
Khawar’s family has also started an online fundraiser to help fund a private investigator and underwater searches.
Any tips can be logged through VPD at 604-717-2530 and via email: findingsuleimankhawar@gmail.com
With files from CTV Vancouver’s Becca Clarkson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Mookie Betts leads Dodgers past Blue Jays 4-2; Toronto drops fifth consecutive game
Mookie Betts went 3 for 5, including a triple and an RBI single, as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Saturday.