Search for armed banker

Fears were growing last night for a former City financier who has been missing since Monday and believed to be in the possession of two shotguns.

Huibert Boumeester was involved in the disastrous buyout of ABN Amro by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2007 and left the company earlier this year. Alarm bells were raised after he failed to attend a meeting with a headhunting agency in the City on Monday. Mr Boumeester, who is understood to suffer from depression, is the legal owner of six guns including shotguns and rifles. Police found four of the weapons at his homes, but two shotguns are missing. Last night police issued an urgent appeal to trace Mr Boumeester. Detective Inspector Mick Standing, of Westminster police, said: "We are seriously concerned for the safety of Mr Boumeester. We are extremely keen to locate him as soon as possible to make sure that he is well."

Officers have been to Boumeester's two homes in London, and a property he owns in Scotland.

A police spokesman said: "Huibert is known to frequent the areas of Clapham, Windsor, High Wycombe, and Scotland. He has been feeling down of late, and police are growing increasingly concerned for his safety."