Mystery as British tourist vanishes in Israeli desert for seven weeks, leaving his bicycle, wallet and laptop by a trail

  • Oliver McAfee, 29, disappeared on November 21 while riding solo on Israeli trail
  • Police found his bike, laptop and wallet last month as missing person case filed
  • Wide-scale search ongoing for McAfee, believed to be from Northern Ireland

Oliver McAfee (pictured), 29, disappeared on November 21 while riding solo along the popular Israel National Trail

Oliver McAfee (pictured), 29, disappeared on November 21 while riding solo along the popular Israel National Trail

Israeli police are searching for a missing British tourist who was last seen cycling in the country's southern desert seven weeks ago. 

Oliver McAfee, 29, disappeared on November 21 while riding solo along the popular Israel National Trail near the small town of Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev.

A missing persons case was opened on December 27 after his family raised the alarm on Christmas Eve.  

A number of his possessions, including his bike, laptop and wallet, were found near the trail and given to Interpol and his family, the Times of Israel reports. 

Police said there was no evidence of foul play, adding in a statement that 'he could have managed to make his way to a road in the south and possibly got into a vehicle'. 

But a 'wide-scale' search is ongoing in the Negev in a bid to find Mr McAfee, Inspector Mickey Rosenfeld explained.

'At the moment the area which we're focusing on is down south near Mitzpe Ramon,' he added, according to The Telegraph.  

'Until any clear evidence comes up we're optimistic.'

According to his Facebook page, Mr McAfee is from Dromore in Northern Ireland but lives in Chelmsford, Essex.

Pictured: The Makhtesh Ramon Crater near the town of Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev desert

But a 'wide-scale' search is ongoing in the Negev in a bid to find Mr McAfee, Inspector Mickey Rosenfeld explained. Pictured: The Makhtesh Ramon Crater near the town of Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev desert 

Police in Israel asked the public to call its 100 line with any information. 

They also described Mr McAfee as thin, with shoulder-length ginger hair, a goatee and glasses.

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