One year on: did you see Saima Ahmed?

City police are distributing posters to festival visitors and rail users in an effort to uncover fresh information into the death of a London woman whose body was found on the outskirts of the city earlier this year.

Saima Ahmed was discovered on the afternoon of Saturday, January 9th, off Gogarstone Road. It is believed the 36-year-old had travelled by rail from her home in Wembley to the Scottish Capital a year ago this month.

Detectives from Edinburgh CID are continuing with their investigation regarding Saima’s death and are hoping to gather new information from rail passengers who might have seen or spoken to her.

Police will be distributing posters and leaflets to visitors to the Unofficial Fringe Venue 999 in East Princes Street Gardens until the end of the festival next week. In addition, officers from Police Scotland, assisted by officers from British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police Service will be handing out posters on Tuesday 30th August in the Wembley area of London, train stations in Hemel Hempsted and Birmingham as well as Waverley station and elsewhere in Edinburgh.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin MacLean, Head of Crime Operations for Edinburgh CID, said: “There are several outstanding lines of enquiry in what has been a painstaking investigation. We still need to establish why Saima came to Scotland and Edinburgh and the circumstances that led to her death.

“The information gathered thus far certainly indicates that Saima left her home on Sunday, August 30th, last year and travelled by train to Edinburgh. Now, almost one year on, Edinburgh is again in the midst of hosting the International Festival and there will be a number of people returning to the city who may remember Saima. It’s my hope that these posters might help jog some memories and we can gain vital information to assist with our investigation.”

He added: “We continue to provide Saima’s family with regular updates and I again thank them for their patience and assistance in helping us keep Saima’s case in the public eye.”

Saima Ahmed’s exact movements as she journeyed to Scotland remain unconfirmed however detectives believe she bought a Birmingham to Edinburgh rail ticket at Birmingham New Street Station at around 5pm on Sunday, August 30th, 2015. 

Thereafter, there is a strong possibility that she boarded one of two Edinburgh bound services scheduled for later the same day:

–  Either the 5:15pm Virgin service due to arrive at Edinburgh Waverley at 10:22pm

This stopped at the following locations: Sandwell & Dudley, Wolverhampton, Crewe, Warrington, Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Preston, Lancaster. Passengers travelling onto Edinburgh then switched services and boarded the 7:14pm stopping at Oxenholme Lake District, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Haymarket and Waverley.

OR

–  The 5:30pm Virgin Cross Country Network (via York), which was due to arrive at 10:21pm.

This service stopped at: Derby, Sheffield, Doncaster, York, Darlington, Durham, Newcastle and Waverley.

Anyone who remembers Saima or has information that can help with the ongoing investigation can contact police on 101 or alternatively information can be passed anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.