News

Toronto police have seized about 40 computers from two Toronto Public Library branches in their ongoing search for missing teen Mariam Makhniashvili.

Detectives executed a search warrant at the Forest Hill branch shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday, followed by another warrant at the Barbara Frum Library near Lawrence Ave. West and Bathurst St. They were acting on new information that the teenager had used the computers at both branches in the summer, said Const. Tony Vella.

“We’re hoping to find any sort of literature or information associated with her, e-mails, web pages, anyone that she might have communicated with over the Internet, that may assist the investigators on [determining] her whereabouts,” he said.

It will take “some time” for the computers to be thoroughly examined by the police service’s tech section, he added.

Mariam, who turned 18 Tuesday, was last seen by her brother Sept. 14 outside the front entrance of their high school, Forest Hill Collegiate Institute.

Her backpack, with school books inside, was found three weeks later behind an apartment building in the Yonge and Eglinton area, about two kilometres away.

Police have long insisted there is nothing to indicate that any crime has been committed. They have canvassed neighbourhoods, issued appeals at three local high schools and investigated dozens of tips.

Originally from the republic of Georgia, part of the former Soviet Union, Mariam immigrated to Canada in June and had only attended four days of Grade 11 classes when she vanished. Her English was shaky and she had yet to make friends at her new school.

Linda Hazzan, director of marketing and communications for the library, said the branches are working as quickly as possible to replace the computers and they hope to have some service restored within the next 24-48 hours. In the meantime, she advised patrons to use another branch for computers if they’re able to do so.