© picture alliance / maxppp | Sylvestre
Since Friday afternoon, 11-year-old Lyhanna disappeared after leaving her secondary school in Fleurance, in the Gers department in southwestern France. She is still being sought after; a 41-year-old man has been taken into custody.
11-year-old Lyhanna disappeared on Friday around 3 p.m. as she was leaving school. Around 7 p.m., her parents raised the alarm. A witness last saw her when she got into a man's car. Camera footage confirmed this and on Saturday afternoon, a 41-year-old man, the father of a friend of the missing girl, was arrested. He claims he took her to the Fleurance swimming pool, but his statement read by the police as contradictory and vague.
The man was remanded in custody and arraigned before an investigating judge. A judicial investigation was opened for kidnapping and unlawful deprivation of liberty of a minor.
A massive search operation was launched on Saturday: about 100 police officers were deployed last weekend, assisted by a team of dogs and supported by a helicopter and drones. "The Gers River and the waters near Fleurance have been or are currently being investigated by divers," BFMTV reported on Sunday. On Sunday, more than 250 citizens gathered to help in the search.
On Monday, the search focused on the forests around Fleurance. Meanwhile, the suspect's car is being examined for traces.
Picture: © picture alliance / maxppp | Sylvestre