Six students from Burundi, who came to America to participate this week in an international robotics competition, have been reported missing.
Officers from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department are investigating the sudden disappearance of the teens aged 16-18, who vanished Tuesday from the District after participating in final rounds of the FIRST Global Challenge at DAR Constitution Hall.
D.C. police identified the African youth on Twitter as: Audrey Mwamikazi, 17; Aristide Irambona, 18; Kevin Sabumukiza, 17; Don Ingabire, 16; Nice Munezero, 17; and Richard Irakoze, 18.
Two of the teens, Audrey and Don, were seen crossing into Canada on Thursday, according to police.
While no foul play is suspected at this point, Joe Sestak, FIRST Global competition president, was the first to call the police after the team’s mentor disclosed they could not find the students.
A statement issued by the competition reads that security of the students is of paramount importance to FIRST Global.
“FIRST Global ensures that all students get to their dormitories after the daily competition by providing safe transportation to the students staying at Trinity Washington University, who are always to be under close supervision of their adult mentor and are advised not to leave the premises unaccompanied by the mentor,” the statement further reads.
The students hand been granted one-year visas to stay in the U.S.