An 11-year-old boy is suspected of being involved in the death of a 10-year-old girl at an orphanage in Germany, police said.
The girl was found dead in her room at a child and youth welfare facility in Wunsiedel, Bavaria, on Tuesday.
Evidence collected at the scene “points to the involvement of an 11-year-old boy” who lives at the same facility, local police and prosecutors said in a joint statement.
“Because the 11-year-old boy has not yet reached criminal age, he has been placed in a secure facility as a precaution,” they added.
How the girl died is unclear, although a police spokesman told German media that she died a “violent” death.
This comes as Germany is still reeling from the murder of 12-year-old Luise Frisch, who was found dead last month in the western town of Freudenberg after suffering multiple stab wounds.
Two schoolgirls aged 12 and 13 admitted the murder.
Ulrike Scharf (third from right), Minister for Family Affairs, leaves the center for child and youth welfare with Martin Schöffel, MdL, to lay flowers in front of the facility.
Ulrike Scharf pays tribute to a girl who was murdered in a kindergarten in Bavaria
A police patrol car blocks the way to the child and youth welfare service
Family Affairs Minister Ulrike Scharf speaks in front of the children and youth center where a 10-year-old girl was found dead
The police and prosecutors did not want to provide further details about the Wunsiedel case, but say the boy has not yet been questioned.
They added that they worked closely with local youth authorities.
Bavaria’s interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, praised the investigators for quickly identifying a suspect.
READ MORE: Clues to what prompted child to bully then kill 12-year-old friend emerge in quaint town
“Thanks to the careful and very dedicated investigations, a person involved in the crime could be identified within a relatively short time.
“It is now important to clarify the exact circumstances of this tragedy,” he said.
The children and youth center in the small town of Wunsiedel, home to around 90 children and young people, was “deeply shocked” by the death of the girl.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the parents, family, our children and our colleagues,” the statement said.
On its website, the institute describes itself as a supporter of “young people and their families who need help with their education”.
The investigation into the girl’s death will continue undisturbed throughout the Easter weekend, police said on Friday.
Less than a month ago, the town of Freudenberg, near Cologne, was rocked when Luise Frisch (12) was found dead after she disappeared after a match date.
Her killers, named Luisa Halberstadt (13) and Anna-Marie Hoffman (12), Stabbed their victim 32 times with a nail file before throwing her down a steep slope into the nearby forest.
Luise Frisch was found dead after she disappeared after a match date
Flowers and candles near where Luise’s body was found
The 13-year-old suspect posted a video on TikTok of her dancing just hours after Luise’s body was found
The classmates also put a plastic bag over Luise’s head before one got scared and told the others to “hit her with a stone, otherwise she will lie next to her”.
The couple confessed to the crime but will avoid punishment as they are too young to be criminally responsible in Germany.
Police fear Luise was alive before she was thrown off the shore and died from her injuries and the sub-freezing temperatures that hit the area in early March.
An investigating source told MailOnline: “The act itself was horrific. Experienced officers who have been involved in many murder cases are shocked by the murder.
“Not only because of the victim’s age, but also because of the suspect’s age – the murder weapon has yet to be found and although we initially thought it might be a knife, we now suspect it might be a nail file.”
Officials urged people not to share the suspects’ identities on social media after the attacks, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
Photos of the girls with the word “murderer” circulated on various websites as outrage grew over the fact that both would evade justice because they are under 14, a criminal offense in Germany.
A petition calling for a change in the law has received hundreds of thousands of signatures.
Death threats were also made against the girls online, and they and their families were taken from their homes in the sleepy town of Freudenberg.
Police have been forced to park patrol cars outside suspects’ homes to deter angry citizens from damaging property, and it is unlikely the families will ever be able to return.
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Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
