The investigators will stop the active search for six-year-old Arian from Bremervörde in northern Lower Saxony on Tuesday. “We will no longer be on site here from tomorrow,” said a police spokesman on Monday evening. However, an investigative team will continue to work on the case.
Arian, who disappeared a week ago, has not yet been found. Even the largest search operation to date on Sunday with around 1,200 helpers did not provide any information about the boy’s whereabouts. “We wanted to do everything humanly possible to find Arian,” said the police spokesman. “Yesterday we tried everything again.” But there was no success. “We came close to promising we would find him, and we couldn’t keep that.”
All areas in question were searched, some of them several times. “After all this, we are left empty-handed,” the spokesman said earlier on Monday.
Previously it was also said that “A few footprints” were found over the weekend. The investigators followed the tracks with dogs – but initially without success, which is why the search strategy had to be changed. Instead of continuing to search the area, the emergency services want to proceed selectively and specifically follow up on clues, it was said. “We take all information seriously,” emphasized the spokesman.
But the Optimism is slowly fading, admitted the spokesman. “At some point, I think a certain amount of realism sets in for many people,” said the spokesman. “And you can’t close your eyes to that.”
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Several riot police squads were scheduled to comb the region for the autistic boy on Monday. The investigators received support from two hundred of the Lower Saxony riot police.
In the past few days, the emergency services had already searched 5,300 hectares on land, water and from the air – that corresponds to an area of more than 7,500 football fields. “We are putting in a lot of effort here,” the police spokesman said.
Because: “Arian will hopefully be found alive”
Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil thanked the emergency services. “This is also a difficult mission for them – I am aware of that,” said the SPD politician on Monday. The search operation is an impressive example of compassion and solidarity.
“I’m probably like many people, I really hope that Arian will be found quickly and hopefully alive,” emphasized Weil. “My sympathy goes especially to Arian’s parents, who find themselves in an unbearable situation between fear and hope.”
Arian has been missing since April 22nd. He had left his parents’ house unnoticed. A surveillance camera recorded the boy running into a neighboring forest after his disappearance. Since then, hundreds of emergency services have searched the six-year-old’s hometown and the surrounding area. Arian is autistic and, according to an expert, could probably not responding to calls.
Emergency services searched 15 square kilometers for Arian
On Sunday morning, around 800 helpers combed the area north of the missing child’s home. The emergency services formed one 1.5 kilometer wide human chain roamed the area from the north towards Elm.
© dpa/Daniel Bockwoldt
Around 15 square kilometers were searched. Added to this 400 additional forces searching elsewhere. Overall were 1200 forces deployed.
The The fire brigade, Bundeswehr and police forces involved were equipped with GPS trackersso that they remain at the same height despite the great distance. It was hoped that this would allow the area to be searched completely.
In addition, boats and drones were again in usesaid the spokeswoman. And a cavalry squadron also took part.
© dpa/Daniel Bockwoldt
Search for Arian: Emergency services rely on “quiet strategy”
“I have never led such a large search effort before”said Jörg Wesemann, head of operations for the Rotenburg police.
The logistics of getting all helpers from the fire department, THW, rescue workers and the Bundeswehr to the scene were enormous, said a police spokeswoman.
On Sunday night, the emergency services searched for Arian again using the so-called quiet strategy. According to police, this was discussed with an autism expert.
© dpa/Lars Penning
Beforehand, among other things, loud music was played or fireworks were set off because the boy liked it. Already On Friday night, the emergency services projected cones of light into the sky with powerful spotlights and played children’s songs.
© dpa/Daniel Bockwoldt
Voice messages from his mother were also played during the search. She allows him to contact emergency services, such as occupational therapist Jutta Bertholdt on Saturday the dpa reported.
Bertholdt advises the helpers during the search. Arian could do without it the permission of a trusted person Be wary of contacting emergency services. (AFP, dpa)