New details emerge about the international custody battle that triggered an Amber Alert

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More details are being learned after Niagara police issued an Amber Alert for a nine-year-old girl over the weekend believed to have been abducted by her mother. The little girl is at the centre of a 3 year long custody dispute.

Layla Sabry and her mother Allana Haist were last seen Thursday in downtown Welland. Niagara police say while they are getting tips investigators are no closer to finding the two. Haist is the primary care giver for the little girl after separating from her husband in 2013 and divorcing a year later. Layla was born in Egypt but has dual citizenship. The two have been living in the Welland area for the last year. Police issued the Amber Alert after Haist failed to appear for a court hearing last week.

A Gofund me page was set up by someone identifying himself as Haist’s uncle. It read, she has fought and won custody of her daughter many times over and has been drained of all financial resources. The page raised over $6 000 before it was taken down this afternoon. Allana Haist was born in Hamilton and lived abroad for many years, but has family in the Welland area. She got married in 2001 in Egypt and completed her PhD in political science there years later.

Police say they don’t have any information that would suggest the two have left the Welland area. Investigators also say any family members who know her whereabouts that are withholding it could be facing obstruction charges.