The mysterious disappearance of a Perthshire sailor in Dubai could be linked to a motorcycle gang, it has been claimed.
Timmy MacColl was last seen by shipmates in the early hours of May 27.
Family members, including his pregnant wife Rachael, have appealed for information which could lead to the safe return of the dad of two, who is originally from Killin.
Timmy’s uncle, a police officer in the Lochee area of Dundee, has confirmed that authorities in Dubai are probing the possibility his nephew’s disappearance was connected to a motorcycle gang.
Colin MacColl was speaking in the wake of revelations the Scots sailor was spotted in the company of a man thought to have biker links shortly before he vanished.
A campaign entitled Bring Timmy Home has been launched in a bid to trace the leading seaman and police are keen to trace a man seen on CCTV talking to the St Johnstone fan outside a biker bar before he vanished. The man, who wore motorcycling leathers, may hold vital information.
He is being urged by Timmy’s family to contact police if only to rule himself out of their inquiries.
Motorcycle gangs are known to operate in the Emirate.
”It is a line of inquiry the Dubai police are pursuing, along with others,” said PC MacColl.
”The only thing we know for certain is that the last time Timmy was seen was when he was getting in a taxi at the Rock Bottom Cafe.”
Rock Bottom Cafe in Bur Dubai is a popular nightspot for motorcyclists and bike-mad Timmy, who was on a run ashore from his ship HMS Westminster, was last seen drinking there before being put into a taxi by shipmates at 2am.
The driver was told to drive to nearby Port Rashid where Westminster was docked but Timmy whose wife is due to give birth to their third child in October never made it back on board.