Missing Arian from Bremervörde: Largest search operation to date started | NDR.de – News – Lower Saxony

As of: April 28, 2024 11:19 a.m

The largest search operation since Arian’s disappearance from Bremervörde (Rotenburg district) began today. The search continues with 1,200 emergency services – on land and at sea. Ten drones are also scheduled to go up.

According to the police, every corner of the area should be searched as systematically as possible with a coordinated human chain 1,500 meters long. From the town of Kranenburg, the emergency services go south to Elm. “In recent days, footprints have been repeatedly found in this area that could have come from Arian,” the police said on Sunday morning. The chain’s forces are equipped with GPS trackers so that the chain can stay at the same height. Immediately behind the chain are small search parties to search difficult to overcome places such as dense bushes without the chain having to stop at this point.

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1,200 people are looking for Arian

A horse squad is also on site to inspect trenches from an elevated vantage point. Ten drones officially support the operation. With around 1,200 emergency services, more than ever before are expected to search for the missing six-year-old. The logistics of getting all the helpers from the fire department, THW, rescue workers and the Bundeswehr to the scene were enormous, said the spokeswoman. According to the police, there were no new findings from Sunday night.

“Quiet strategy” did not lead to success

Last night, like the night before, the search teams avoided making noise in the hope that the six-year-old would then identify himself. Beforehand, among other things, loud music was played or fireworks were set off because the autistic boy liked it. On Saturday, around 400 Bundeswehr soldiers and numerous police officers who were actually on duty were on duty. They reported to the police after an internal call and supported the search teams.

Farmers shouldn’t mow fields

On Saturday afternoon, farmers in the area were urgently asked to refrain from mowing for the time being. It cannot be ruled out that the six-year-old sought refuge in one of the fields around the Elm district, the authorities said. Therefore, mowing work should be avoided within a radius of 15 kilometers around the town, the official danger notice continued. Meanwhile, emergency services continued to search for Arian on the Oste River. Several sonar boats were used again. However, no new lead was discovered, a police spokesman said on Saturday afternoon. Additional emergency services combed the area between Elm and the municipality of Oldendorf.

Any wolf attack unlikely

A police spokesman said on Saturday that there was no evidence of a criminal case. He also ruled out a possible wolf attack. A wolf advisor from the Rotenburg district also thinks this is unlikely. Wolfgang Albrecht said that danger only exists in special cases, such as when a wolf feels attacked.

A photo of the missing boy Arian.  © Screenshot

Arian left the house only lightly dressed.

Soldiers with night vision devices in action

“Stopping” is what you hear again and again in the Bremervörde district of Elm, 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 side, 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.

Garbage collection canceled, manhole cover opened

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.

Cones of light, fireworks and children’s songs were intended to attract Arian

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 also shown by images from a private surveillance camera in the area.

“It’s very impressive how motivated the emergency services are here”

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 are asking for information

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

NDR reporter Anna Schlieter reports from Bremervörde-Elm.  © NDR

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The six-year-old from Bremervörde has been missing since Monday. Anna Schlieter from the NDR Studio Oldenburg reports from Elm. (04/27/2024) 1 min

Occupational therapist Jutta Berthold in an interview.  © NDR

The missing six-year-old from Bremervörde is autistic. According to a therapist, he probably behaves differently than his peers. (04/25/2024) more

Six-year-old Arian Arnold from Bremervörde-Elm is missing.  © Rotenburg police station

The boy is autistic and does not react when spoken to. According to the police, he disappeared in Bremervörde-Elm. (04/23/2024) more

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NDR 1 Lower Saxony | Current | April 28, 2024 | 9:00 a.m

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