Police in Ostrobothnia are searching for a large family who have been missing for more than a year.

Before they went missing in mid May of last year, the family's seven children had been ordered into care by local child protective services in Nykarleby (Uusikaarlepyy in Finnish).

Authorities suspect that the family's parents took the children with them and left the area in a van.

At the time of their disappearance the family included seven children — born between 2007 and 2021 — a father and a mother, who was pregnant at the time.

The family has been missing since then, prompting police to issue an international warrant to help track them down. The police have also contacted law enforcement in other Nordic countries about the matter.

Police suspect that someone might be helping the family to hide from authorities, either in Ostrobothnia, Southern Finland or in another Nordic country.

According to police, the main goal of tracking down the family is to ensure that the children receive all the help, support and security to which they are entitled. Police said that they are announcing the case publicly in an effort to find the family.

Police suspect the parents of taking the children into their own care after they were in state custody, according to chief investigator Tony Rauma.

"Additionally, the family's overall situation is also being investigated, as well as whether there has been any kind of educational neglect," he told news agency STT.

Police do not suspect the children have been in any kind of acute danger.

"Of course, the fact that such a large family has been missing for more than a year and nothing has been heard from them is cause for concern," Rauma said.

Investigators have not found any physical or digital traces of the family's whereabouts since they started looking for them. This has prompted authorities to suspect that someone might be helping to hide the large family.

"Supporting a family of 10 people requires resources, and police suspect that some kind of support network was formed around helping them," the police said in a statement.

Police have asked the public for information or possible tips about the family's whereabouts. Such information can be shared with the Ostrobothnian Police Department by email at vihjeet.pohjanmaa(at)poliisi.fi or by phone at 0295 415 501.