As of: April 27, 2024 4:25 p.m
The search for Arian from Bremervörde, who has been missing since Monday evening, continues. The helpers are concentrating on the Oste River. At the same time, farmers were urged not to mow.
It cannot be ruled out that the six-year-old had sought refuge in one of the fields around the Elm district, the authorities said on Saturday afternoon. Therefore, mowing work should be avoided within a radius of 15 kilometers around the town, the official hazard notice continues. Meanwhile, emergency services continue to search for Arian on the Oste River. Several sonar boats will again be used. However, no new lead was discovered, a police spokesman said on Saturday afternoon. Additional emergency services are combing the area between Elm and the municipality of Oldendorf.
How many people are looking for Arian is unclear
Previously, a “quiet strategy” had failed on the fifth night after Arian’s disappearance. Emergency services found no traces of the six-year-old. “Unfortunately, the night didn’t get us anywhere,” said a police spokesman on Saturday morning. Around 400 Bundeswehr soldiers and numerous police officers who are actually off work will be on duty on Saturday. They reported to the police after an internal call and are now supporting the search teams. How many people are looking for Arian is unclear. Police did not have a total number on Saturday.
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Search again in Elm and on the Oste
In some places people want to check several times, said the spokesman. “It’s entirely possible that the boy is also moving back and forth. What was negative yesterday may be positive today.” At the same time, the search is already extending far into the neighboring Stade district. Residents in the area are urged to re-examine their sheds, garages or basements and walk their properties to see if Arian has been hiding there. Locked rooms should also be opened and searched again.
Soldiers with night vision devices in action
“Stopping” is what you hear again and again in the Bremervörde district of Elm (Rotenburg district), that is not an option. On the night from Friday to Saturday, the rescue workers changed their strategy: While they had tried to lure the six-year-old out with big spotlights, fireworks and music on the first four nights, they now conducted a quiet search so as not to scare Arian. Around 200 soldiers searched in small groups with night vision devices in Elm and northwest of the town for the missing child. The operational strategy was coordinated with an autism expert, among others, a police spokeswoman said on Friday evening.
Small groups search the Elm district
On Friday, the search for Arian focused again on the Oste River northwest of Elm and the district of Elm itself. The strategy was also adjusted: the emergency services formed small groups instead of chains, as a police spokesman said. New search corridors have also been set up. Along the east, the river was searched north towards Kranenburg. There is great concern that the boy may have fallen into the water. In addition to police, fire brigade and German Red Cross (DRK) forces, the Bundeswehr is on duty. During the afternoon, 150 additional soldiers from the Air Force’s Object Protection Regiment in Schortens (Friesland district) arrived in Bremervörde to provide support. On Thursday, around 250 soldiers from the army base in Seedorf (Rotenburg district) arrived to help with the search.
“Hope among the emergency services is still extremely high”
In addition, according to the fire department, garbage collection was canceled on Friday so that helpers could search for the boy in the bins. Manhole covers, sheds and garages had also been opened. According to information from NDR Lower Saxony, the emergency services also placed a focus on the sewer system during the search. According to the police, because Arian is autistic, he cannot articulate himself and cannot respond to being spoken to – including when his name is called. But despite all the strategies: There has been no sign of life from Arian so far. “The hope among the emergency services is still extremely high,” said police spokeswoman Sara Mehnen. “But we know that time is against us.”
Cones of light, fireworks and children’s songs are intended to attract Arian
Arian left the house only lightly dressed.
On Friday night, the police set up spotlights in the search area that projected a beam of light into the sky and played children’s songs until the morning. The police hoped to provide an incentive for the missing boy. “The boy may react positively to something like this,” said a spokesman. In the previous nights, the helpers set off fireworks, among other things, because the boy supposedly liked that, as a police spokesman said. At the request of the parents, the fire department hung balloons and candy in a wooded area adjacent to the boy’s family home. The rescue workers also positioned wildlife cameras in the forest: If the boy moves in front of one of them, the camera is triggered and informs the police.
Six-year-old is traveling without a jacket or shoes
The emergency services repeatedly emphasize that the situation is serious: According to the police, the boy left his home on Monday evening only lightly dressed: an ochre-yellow long-sleeved sweater, black sweatpants – and no shoes. This was confirmed by images from a private surveillance camera in the area, it was said.
Search for Arian with drones and dogs
The police, fire brigade, German Life Saving Society (DLRG) and German Red Cross (DRK) have been in large-scale operations since Monday evening – with extensive technical equipment. “It is very impressive how motivated the emergency services are here,” said city fire chief Schwarz to NDR Lower Saxony. In Elm, the community center, the gym and the fire station were opened. “We give them all the support we can give the emergency services here,” Elm’s local mayor Erich Gajdzik (CDU) told NDR Lower Saxony.
Police have set up a tip line
The police in Bremervörde have set up a tip line. Anyone who has anything to say about the boy’s whereabouts is asked to call Telephone number (04761) 7489-135 or -144 Report to.
Further information
