Missing for a week: Arian from Bremervörde remains missing | NDR.de – News – Lower Saxony

The autistic boy left his parents’ home last Monday – and has disappeared ever since. On Sunday evening, up to 1,200 helpers searched for him on land and at sea. Despite the largest search effort to date, the child has not been found. The operation took longer than expected. “Due to the arduous search of the impassable terrain, a large part of the forces will now rest,” said a spokeswoman on Sunday evening as darkness fell. During the night, the police wanted to evaluate the results of the large-scale operation in order to be able to pursue further possible investigative approaches today.

No sign of Arian

A coordinated human chain 1,500 meters long was formed on Sunday with around 800 helpers who, according to the police, systematically searched every corner of the area. From the town of Kranenburg, the emergency services worked their way south to Elm in the morning. “In recent days, footprints have been repeatedly found in this area that could have come from Arian,” the police said on Sunday morning. In the afternoon, according to information from NDR Lower Saxony, it turned out that none of these traces could be assigned to Arian.

Search parties for difficult places

The chain’s forces were equipped with GPS trackers so that the chain could stay at the same height. Immediately behind, small search parties were on the move, searching hard-to-reach places such as dense undergrowth. “I have never led such a large search effort before,” said Jörg Wesemann, head of operations for the Rotenburg police.

Horse relay and drones in action

According to the Steinhude fire department, a so-called hovercraft was also requested for the operation. The hovercraft is therefore well suited for searching for people in flooded meadows. A horse squad was also on site to inspect trenches from an elevated vantage point. Ten drones supported the operation.

No date for the end of the search

There is currently no end date for when the search will be called off, a police spokeswoman said on Sunday. “The large number of forces” that were deployed on Sunday “shows that we still have hope.” Many volunteers who took part in the search for Arian at the weekend will probably also be released from work by their employers at the beginning of the week, a police spokeswoman told NDR Lower Saxony.

“Quiet strategy” did not lead to success

On Sunday night, the search teams, like the night before, avoided making any 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. 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.

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, from then on there was a quiet search so as not to scare Arian. 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 operation was again focused 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. 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

1 min

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

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

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