small child
Boy missing in France: bird of prey or crime?
Volunteers take part in a search for two-year-old Emile in the southern French alpine village of Le Vernet. photo
© Nicolas Tucat/AFP/dpa
The two-year-old was on holiday with his grandparents in the village when they lost sight of him. What happened?
In the search for a two-year-old who has been missing for six days in southern France, the investigators do not rule out that an animal could possibly also have something to do with the disappearance. An attack by one is conceivable Bird of prey, reported the broadcaster BFMTV, referring to the public prosecutor.
According to the authorities, other hypotheses are an accident, a crime or even an involvement of the family in the disappearance. The two-and-a-half-year-old Émile disappeared in the 125-inhabitant town of Le Vernet on Saturday evening last week. Despite an intensive search, no trace of the boy was found.
Manhunt continues
In the remote mountain village, residents had also speculated about a wolf attack. However, it is extremely rare for wolves to attack humans. A final search by around 50 police officers in the area around the site ended in vain. Mayor François Balique imposed a ban on outsiders entering the site until Monday evening to protect the boy’s family and residents.
Disaster tourism should also be prevented. As the mayor told the newspaper “Le Figaro”, he could most likely imagine a traffic accident after which the driver, in a panic, invited the boy over.
The boy was on holiday with his grandparents in town when they lost sight of him on Saturday evening. A number of other relatives were staying with the grandparents at the time. The mayor told “Figaro” that he rules out the possibility that the family could have had anything to do with the disappearance.
The investigators are currently concentrating on questioning people who may be able to provide a clue to the boy’s fate. Its chances of surviving without eating and drinking are now very slim.