Authorities detained an individual under suspicion of exploiting underage girls.
The police headquarters in Offenburg, in cooperation with the Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police Office, the Federal Criminal Police Office, and Romanian security authorities, have successfully arrested a 31-year-old Romanian man suspected of sexually abusing a six-year-old girl near the Rulantica water park in Rust (Ortenaukreis).
The incident is believed to have taken place on Saturday evening. The girl, who was at the water park with her parents, went missing and was lured out of the park by a stranger who offered to help find her parents. The suspect is alleged to have asked the girl to perform sexual acts on him in the adjacent forest.
Investigators from the criminal police are appealing for potential witnesses to call 0781 21-2820. Anyone who saw suspicious people with a girl between 20:20 and 22:20 on Saturday evening near Rulantica or Lake Grafenhausen is urged to contact them.
The suspect was identified with the help of video footage from the water park and an eyewitness. Clothing found during a search of his residence matched what the suspect wore during the crime, supporting the identification. The arrest took place late in the evening in Romania, coordinated between German and Romanian authorities, and arrangements for extradition are underway.
Thomas Strobl, Baden-Württemberg's interior minister, praised the work of the responsible authorities. He stated that the suspect can no longer cause harm as he is now behind bars. Jürgen Rieger, Offenburg's police president, stated that all measures taken were effective.
Europa-Park has detailed emergency plans, trained staff, and works closely with authorities. All 700 employees are sensitized to this issue. The girl is likely traumatized, but police found no major physical injuries. There's no evidence yet that the girl was raped.
The arrest was the result of close cooperation between the police headquarters in Offenburg, the Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police Office, the Federal Criminal Police Office, Romanian security authorities, and targeted national and international investigative measures. The successful arrest was achieved by the established Niederwald investigation team.
It is worth noting that the suspect is known to the police for theft and fraud. The arrest marks a significant step in bringing the perpetrator to justice and ensuring the safety of all visitors to the Europa-Park.
The case exemplifies how forensic video analysis combined with cross-border police collaboration and international arrest warrants enabled the suspect’s swift identification, location, and arrest abroad. The public is reminded to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
The arrest of the 31-year-old Romanian man, suspected of sexually abusing a six-year-old girl near Rulantica water park, was achieved through collaboration between science (forensic video analysis) and general-news (cross-border police collaboration) agencies. The suspect's arrest also highlights the importance of health-and-wellness (trauma) and sexual-health (sexual abuse) awareness, as the girl involved in the incident may require medical attention. Moreover, the case underscores the need for crime-and-justice (international arrest warrants) and law enforcement agencies to stay vigilant and proactive in ensuring public safety, especially in popular tourist destinations like Europa-Park.
