Police suspect criminal offence in disappearance of 15-year-old girl

Danish police suspect that a criminal offence was committed in connection with the disappearance of a 15-year-old Danish girl, DR reports. She was placed on an international wanted list through Europol earlier this week and was found alive in Hungary on Thursday.

The girl is currently in the custody of the Hungarian authorities, and efforts are under way to bring her back to Denmark as soon as possible.

“There is a suspicion that a criminal offence was committed in connection with her disappearance. I cannot provide further information about the circumstances or details for the sake of our investigation, but I can confirm that there are suspects in the case,” Deputy Police Inspector Christian Skyt said in a statement from South-East Jutland Police.

Police have provided few details but said officers had been carrying out a large-scale operation in the Hedensted area, where the girl is from, since her disappearance was reported on Tuesday evening.

“We are aware that many residents have witnessed the police operation at close range, and that this may naturally raise questions and concern,” Skyt said. He stressed that police believe the incident was isolated and that there is no danger to residents in Hedensted or the surrounding area.

The girl was reported missing on Tuesday after she was last seen at her home that morning. On Wednesday, police expanded the search and asked Europol for assistance. Few details have been made public about the circumstances of her disappearance, including whether she left Hedensted alone or what led to it. It is also not known publicly how she travelled to Hungary.

Police thanked Europol and the Hungarian police for their close and swift cooperation.