Search for sisters widens to coast

The search for two sisters reported missing in Aberdeen has been extended to the coast at New Harbour, police said.

Eliza and Henrietta Huszti – who are part of a set of triplets – were last seen in Market Street at Victoria Bridge at about 02:12 on Tuesday.

A land search will also be carried out on Saturday in the Boat House area, near Duthie Park.

Meanwhile, relatives in Hungary have urged people not to spread unfounded rumours about the sisters’ disappearance.

Divers have already searched part of the River Dee near to where they were last captured on CCTV.

On Friday detectives said there was nothing at this stage to suggest anything suspicious had happened to the women.

A family statement addressed to friends and relatives was released on social media on Saturday.

It confirmed news of the sisters’ disappearance was true.

The statement added: “Therefore, we kindly ask everyone for respect.

“Please do not spread any unfounded rumours.

“We can only say what’s already been in the news.”

The family said the authorities in Scotland were carrying out investigations.

The statement concluded: “The family is not in a position to give everyone separate information.

“Thank you all for being with us in these difficult times.”

Their brother previously said the sisters, who are originally from Hungary but live in Aberdeen city centre, seemed “fine” in the days before they went missing.

Jozsef told BBC News their mother spoke to the girls last Saturday.

They had a 40-minute conversation and nothing appeared out of the ordinary.

Their sister Edit Huszti – the other triplet – said she spoke to them on a video call on New Year’s Eve and they appeared happy and cheerful.

She said the sisters were very close and did most things together.

They were described as sociable but as far as the family knows they preferred staying at home to going out, often opting to watching films.

Eliza especially enjoyed cooking, the family said.

She added that she believed it was quite out of character for them to be out on the streets in the early hours of the morning.

Edit said she hoped her sisters return to the family safe.

Both Eliza and Henrietta are described as being white, of slim build, with long, brown hair.

They moved to Scotland about seven years ago.

They are said to be part of a “close-knit” family, who do not understand what may have happened to the pair.

It is understood that Henrietta works in a branch of Costa Coffee in Aberdeen.

Police said the side of Victoria Bridge in the Torry area, where they were last seen, contained many commercial and industrial units and searches were ongoing there.

On Friday the search focused on the River Dee itself, on land around the area, and also from the air.

It involved the Police Scotland helicopter, force divers and search dogs.

Officers are urging businesses around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review CCTV footage recorded in the early hours of Tuesday.

Police Scotland said it had the support of police in Hungary who are liaising with the wider family and urged anyone with information to get in touch.