FBI joins search for missing Calif. student from Saudi Arabia

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles police say the FBI is assisting in the investigation of a California State University, Northridge, student from Saudi Arabia who went missing two weeks ago.

Detective Frank Flores tells the Los Angeles Daily News the FBI expressed interest in the search for Abdullah Alkadi because he is a foreign student.

The 23-year-old was reported missing Sept. 18 by his brother. He was last seen at home the night before his disappearance by his roommates.

Alkadi is a student of electrical engineering and has been studying in the United States since 2010. California State University, Northridge is about 25 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

His brother says around the time of his disappearance Alkadi sold one of his cars, an Audi S-5, via Craigslist. The vehicle has a suggested retail price of about $52,000, reports CBS LA.

The station reports the police have since found the vehicle and have said the buyer isn't linked to the student's disappearance. Police traced Alkadi's cell phone to Beaumont, about 100 miles east of the school, where it was deactivated, according to the station.

Flores said the department is following up on all available leads but would not offer further details on the investigation.