crime
Death of six-year-old still unexplained – search operation ended
Police divers use a metal detector to search for crime items on the shore of the lake in Pragsdorf near Neubrandenburg. photo
© Bernd Wüstneck/dpa
A little boy was killed in a village near Neubrandenburg. The police are investigating at high speed and have already completed the large-scale search – and are hoping for forensic investigations.
In addition, information from citizens is being checked to find out what happened on Thursday evening at the children’s meeting point by the lake in Pragsdorf.
The investigators also said they checked vehicle movements. The large-scale search with many forces and riot police who were deployed in the region on Friday has initially been completed.
Death after severe stab wounds
The six-year-old was found on Thursday evening with serious stab wounds in the bushes by a lake in the village. His parents reported him missing when he didn’t return from playing as usual in the afternoon. They had initially searched themselves without success.
All attempts to resuscitate the boy at the scene and on the way to a clinic were unsuccessful. The autopsy revealed that the six-year-old was stabbed – with a previously unknown stabbing tool. The police are investigating manslaughter and are pursuing several investigative approaches, the public prosecutor said.
“The police are working hard to solve the heinous act,” wrote Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Interior Minister Christian Pegel (SPD) on the State Chancellery’s Facebook page. The terrible crime against a child causes sadness and deep consternation. “We can only imagine how great the pain must be for the family.”
Forensic technicians on duty
Forensic scientists are now examining, among other things, the boy’s clothing and a knife. The knife was found in a bush in the village on Friday. The police spokeswoman said they were checking to see whether it was the murder weapon. But that is not yet certain. However, the evaluation of the traces will take a long time. A certain result is not expected before the end of next week.
On Friday evening, around 200 people, together with the affected local family, took part in a silent remembrance in the packed church in Pragsdorf. The boy who was killed had only started school in a primary school in August.