Burundi's teen robotics team missing from Washington

July 20 (UPI) -- Six teens who comprised Burundi's robotics team at a Washington, D.C. competition and were then reported missing are safe, with two in Canada, police said Thursday.

They represented Burundi, a small and impoverished East African nation, in the FIRST Global robotics competition, which began Sunday in Washington. More than 150 nations sent representatives, notably including an an all-female team of teens from Afghanistan. The missing competitors were last seen at Constitution Hall, the site of the event, on Wednesday.

Two missing members of the team were seen leaving the United States for Canada, D.C. police spokeswoman Aquita Brown told the Washington Post. Police could not confirm how they traveled to Canada, and the locations of the other four are unknown.

Police did say, though, that the four are believed to be in safe hands and that no foul play is suspected. Police added that the group's mentor, Canesius Bindaba, is unaware of where they are, CNN reported.

The team members believed to be in Canada are Don Charu Ingabire, 16, and Audrey Mwamikazi, 17. Also reported missing were Richard Irakoze, 18, Kevin Sabumukiza, 17, Nice Munezero, 17 and Aristide Irambona, 18.

Officials at Burundi's Washington embassy offered no information beyond what had been released by Washington police. The U.S. State Department referred all questions to the police department.