Missing Shopkeeper Who Vanished 5 Years Ago Found 'Safe and Well' Days After 5 People Are Arrested for His Murder By Becca Longmire

A man who vanished five years ago has been found just days after five people were arrested on suspicion of his murder.

Ismail Ali hadn’t been seen since leaving work at Gulam Food Stores on Cumberland Road in the city of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England at 2:30 p.m. local time on May 29, 2020, West Yorkshire Police said in a news release obtained by PEOPLE.

He was 46 years old at the time of his disappearance, per the BBC.

On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Ali “turned up at a police station” reporting “to be safe and well,” the police said in an update on Thursday.

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“Officers are working to understand the full circumstances surrounding his disappearance,” the authorities said.

“Mr. Ali’s family have been notified that he has been found safe and well and is being safeguarded whilst necessary checks are being made,” the police added.

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The update comes after the police confirmed on Monday, Nov. 17 that officers from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team had issued warrants for several people located in Bradford, per the release obtained by PEOPLE.

“Three women aged 47, 54 and 55 and two men aged 27 and 51 have all been arrested on suspicion of murder and have been taken into custody,” the police said at the time, adding that a murder investigation had been launched.

Despite Ali still being alive, a police spokesperson told PEOPLE in an email that the five people previously arrested “remain on police bail in relation to money laundering offences.”

“Following the arrests on Monday, house searches were carried out at three properties and a large amount of cash was seized,” the authorities said, per the release, adding that “enquiries will remain ongoing for some time into the money laundering offences.”

The authorities concluded by saying that its “officers would like to thank members of the public who shared the appeal for Mr. Ali.”