1200 rescuers comprised of police, soldiers, firefighters and volunteers are all involved in the search for a missing boy in northern Germany. The child was recorded leaving his home almost a week ago.
According to available information, the boy, Arian, who is an autistic child, was last seen on Monday evening. A surveillance camera showed the boy leaving the home of his parents in Elm and going towards a nearby forest alone.
Arian was seen wearing an orange, long-sleeved sweater, black-dragon-print sweatpants and socks.
According to the police, Arian cannot speak clearly and does not respond when spoken to because of his autism.
Authorities have gathered boats, drones and sniffer dogs as search and rescue teams searched ditches and pipes.
“The large number of forces” that were deployed on Sunday ” indicates that we still have hope,” German press agency DPA quoted a police spokesperson as saying.
Investigators have stated that there are no indications of foul play in Arian’s disappearance and that the search will continue on Monday.
The search zone, which focused on the area around Elm, was extended on Sunday to allow more remote locations.
As a result of this, a 1.5-kilometer (nearly a mile) wide human chain moved from north to south towards Elm.
The police are saying that footprints that could have come from Arian have been repeatedly found in search areas in recent days.
Also, soldiers have been using night vision goggles and police divers have also been searching the nearby Oste River. The police are also making use of light cones, balloons and sweets to lure the boy out of a possible hiding place.
