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Teen Missing After Flying to Morocco to See Young Man She Met Online

By Ari Mason and LeAnne Gendreau

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Missing Clinton Teen Flew to Morocco: Police

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Updated at 11:12 PM EDT on Thursday, Jul 9, 2015

Federal authorities are helping local police search for a 17-year-old girl from Clinton, Connecticut, who is missing after flying to Morocco to see a young man she met on Facebook.

Police said Rebecca Arthur's mother dropped her off Monday at the Delta Airlines terminal at JFK International Airport. She was under the impression her daughter was flying to California to visit a friend.

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"The daughter had no intent of going to California," said Clinton police spokesman Sgt. Jeremiah Dunn.

Instead, Arthur boarded a flight to Casablanca, Morocco, to visit with someone by the name of Sima El Adala. The two met on Facebook and, according to the site, are in a relationship.

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One of El Adala's profile pictures matches the image police sent out Thursday. El Adala has also posted photos of Arthur on his page and is listed as living in Uruguay.

Police said they "have reason to believe" El Adala paid for Arthur's plane ticket to Morocco. They worry he's not who he claims to be.

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"We don't know that he's a real person," Dunn said. "That's our concern."

Arthur arrived in Morocco on July 7.

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"We know she's in the country, but we don't know where she is in that country and we don't know who she's with in that country," Dunn said, adding that the police department is receiving help from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. consulate in Morocco.

Travel to Morocco can be dangerous due to "the potential for terrorist violence against U.S. interests and citizens," according to the U.S. State Department, which urges Americans in Morocco to "maintain a low profile."

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Police said Arthur stands about 5 feet tall and weighs 150 pounds. She has blue eyes and blond hair with red highlights. Arthur was last seen wearing black yoga pants; a black sleeveless shirt; and pink, blue and white Nike sneakers. She was carrying a red suitcase.

Anyone who has been in contact with Arthur or El Adala or who knows anything about them should call police immediately at 860-669-0451 and ask to speak with Officer Santiago or Sgt. Flynn.

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