Döbeln: City in focus due to alleged neo-Nazi activities. - During a search for a missing nine-year-old in Saxony, authorities discovered a body.
Authorities in Döbeln, Saxony, discovered a lifeless body as they expanded their search for nine-year-old Valeriia, who has been missing since June 3rd. The police will determine if the body is that of the missing girl. The grim discovery took place in a forest between Mahlitzsch in the Rossweiner district and Hermsdorf in the Döbelner district, within the Mittelsachsen district, on Tuesday afternoon. A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Following the shocking discovery, police blocked the road linking the two towns and the area where the body was found. Some locals were seen in the vicinity. The Chemnitz Criminal Police and the Crime Scene Unit of the Saxon State Criminal Police Office led the investigation at the scene, while the Chemnitz Public Prosecutor's Office was also involved. "We cannot reveal any further details at this time due to the ongoing, laborious investigative work," police stated.
Valeriia was last seen on her way to school on the morning of her disappearance. A classmate, who was late for school, saw her waiting in front of the school around 9:20 a.m. According to a "Bild" report, the investigators followed this lead but had no success with the help of dogs.
The girl is said to have resided with her mother in Germany since 2022. She speaks broken German, and her father is reportedly still in Ukraine. Their relationship remains unclear.
Over 400 police officers from Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt participated in the day-long search for Valeriia on Tuesday. The officers scoured various locations, including the Mulde River, fields, meadows, and forests. The Mulde River was an earlier site of the search but failed to yield any results. Additionally, the officers had questioned residents, with the aid of police dogs and a helicopter.
Police have also reached out to their counterparts in Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic for assistance. The primary focus of the search, however, remains with Döbeln, a city with approximately 24,000 inhabitants. The city's mayor, Sven Liebhauser (CDU), acknowledged the intense concern from the local population. "We request the residents to check their gardens, cellars, garages, and sheds for the missing girl," Liebhauser urged. Amateur search parties have formed within the city as well.
The broadcast of the missing person report on TV shows "Aktenzeichen XY... ungelöst" on ZDF and "Kripo live" on MDR failed to provide any tangible leads on Valeriia's whereabouts. The spokeswoman for the Chemnitz Police Department assured the public, "We won't give up hope. We'll continue to search and find out what happened to the girl."
The frantic search for Valeriia echoes the case of six-year-old Arian, missing in Bremervōrde-Elm, Lower Saxony, since April 22nd. Since May 23rd, officers began searching for the eight-year-old autistic Mohamed from Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Overall, nearly 10,000 people are currently considered missing in Germany.
Significant efforts continue in locating Valeriia while the investigation unfolds. The tragic discoveries of Arian and Mohamed have highlighted the importance of keeping the public informed and engaged in identifying missing individuals.
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The investigation into Valeriia's disappearance involves multiple authorities, including the Chemnitz Police and the Saxon State Criminal Police Office, as well as the Chemnitz Public Prosecutor's Office. (Public prosecutor's office)
The body discovered during the search in Saxony is currently being investigated by the police to determine if it's that of the missing girl Valeriia. (Police, Ukraine, Germany, Saxony)
The search for Valeriia has involved over 400 police officers from Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, as well as reaching out to their counterparts in Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic. (Döbeln, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt)
The broadcasts on TV shows "Aktenzeichen XY... ungelöst" on ZDF and "Kripo live" on MDR have not provided any tangible leads on Valeriia's whereabouts. (TV shows)
The discovery of the body and the ongoing search for Valeriia has raised concern among the residents of Döbeln, a city with approximately 24,000 inhabitants. (Döbeln)
