Six teenagers from a Burundi robotics team have been reported missing after an international competition in Washington and two of them were seen entering Canada, police say.
The four males and two females were last seen late on Tuesday afternoon when the robotics contest ended at the FIRST Global Challenge, police said. Authorities issued missing persons photographs of the six on Wednesday.
Two of the Burundians - Audrey Mwamikazi, 17, and 16-year-old Don Ingabire - were spotted crossing the United States border into Canada, District of Columbia police spokeswoman Margarita Mikhaylova said.
"We don't have any indication of foul play and we're continuing to investigate this case," she said. Police said they did not have information about how they were spotted or the nature of the border crossing.
Canada's Border Services Agency said it could neither confirm nor deny that the pair entered Canada.
Teams of teenage students from more than 150 countries took part in the competition, which was designed to encourage careers in math and technology. An all-girl squad from Afghanistan drew worldwide media attention when President Donald Trump intervened after they were denied US visas.
"The Washington Post" reported that the other four also were believed to be in safe hands, but Bilal said she had no information about their situation.
First Global said it called police after learning that "the adult mentor of Team Burundi was unable to find the group of six students of the team."
It said it makes sure that all students get to their dormitory at Trinity Washington University after the daily competition.
They "are always to be under close supervision of their adult mentor and are advised not to leave the premises unaccompanied by the mentor," it said.
The keys to the students' rooms at Trinity Washington University were left in the mentor's bag and their clothes had been taken from the rooms, the organization said.
The Burundi Embassy in Washington said by email that it did not know about the robotics contest or if a Burundian team was attending.
Competition organizer FIRST Global said in a statement that its president, Joe Sestak, made the first call to police about the missing competitors. The non-profit group learned on Tuesday night that the Burundi team's adult mentor had been unable to find them, it said.
The other missing Burundians were named as Nice Munezero, 17; Kevin Sabumukiza, 17; Richard Irakoze, 18; and Aristide Irambona, 18. Police said the students had one-year visas.
Burundi has been in the grip of a crisis since President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial decision in April 2015 to run for a third term in office. He won elections in July that year which were boycotted by the opposition.
Between 500 and 2,000 people have been killed in clashes in the east African country, according to UN and NGO sources. More than 400,000 people have fled and dozens of opposition activists have been forced into exile.
