Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother arrested at Gatwick Airport returning from Pakistan

Three relatives of 10-year-old Sara Sharif returned to the UK from Pakistan were arrested by police in connection with her death.

Police officers were seen boarding the plane at around 7.45pm, and two police cars and three vans later left the terminal with blue lights on.

The two men, aged 41 and 28, and the woman, aged 29, are all being held on suspicion of murder.

The ‘ Emirates” plane carrying Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik landed at Gatwick Airport on Wednesday evening.

The three relatives had left the UK on 9 August, the day before Sara’s body was found at her home in Woking, Surrey.

Sara’s body was found at her home address in Hammond Road, Woking, on 10 August.

A post-mortem examination found that she had sustained multiple and extensive injuries.

Sara’s five siblings, who travelled with the three adults to Pakistan, remain in a government care facility in the country.

Mr Sharif and Ms Batool released a video statement last week in which Ms Batool said they had gone into hiding in Pakistan over fears police in the country would “torture or kill” them.

They also claimed members of their family had been harassed, and that they were willing to co-operate with the UK authorities.

Police in Pakistan said the three travelled of their own free will.

An international search was launched via Interpol for the trio, with police in Pakistan trying to locate them on behalf of detectives in Surrey.

The three relatives are now expected to be questioned by police in the UK.

Surrey Police said “Sara’s mother has been informed of this latest update and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts remain with her and those affected by Sara’s death at this very difficult time”

“This has been an extremely fast-moving, challenging and complex enquiry and we remain absolutely committed to conducting a thorough investigation into Sara’s death.”