Zoya Anwar has been missing since last Tuesday (West Midlands Police)
CCTV footage of Zoya Anwar (left) and a police picture. She has been missing for a week (West Midlands Police)

Five people have been arrested over the disappearance of a teenager who has been missing for over a week.

Zoya Anwar, 18, was last seen in Walsall, West Midlands, on 26 February when she said goodbye to friends at the gates of the King Edward VI School in Handsworth.

She was not reported missing until last Friday when an investigation was launched by West Midlands Police.

Anwar was due to collect her A-level results on Thursday and police are growing increasingly concerned for her safety.

Four men and one woman aged between 27 and 48 have been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping. All were known to Zoya. They remain in police custody.

Det Supt Jo Chilton said: "Zoya has never been missing before and it is very out of character for her. While we are keeping an open mind, we are very concerned for her and need to know she is safe and well as a matter of urgency.

Major incident

"We are carrying out extensive enquiries to trace Zoya with specialist officers working around the clock to try to find her.

"We are looking into a number of possibilities around Zoya's disappearance including her running away from home, her being taken against her will or any worries Zoya may have had herself.

"At this stage we cannot rule out anything more sinister and we are looking into all possibilities. We are treating this as a major incident.

"If Zoya hears this appeal herself, I want her to know that she is not in any trouble we just need to know that she is safe and offer her help."

Anwar is described as Asian, of slim build, 5ft 6 and with shoulder-length black hair.

Police are conducting house to house enquiries and forensic searches and speaking to friends inside and outside of school.