A 15-year-old Danish girl missing since she left her home in Hedensted on Tuesday has been found in Hungary and returned to Denmark, according to Sydöstjyllands polis and European law enforcement agencies.
International Search and Safe Return to Denmark
The teenager’s disappearance triggered a massive cross-border search and an international alert after she departed from Hedensted on Tuesday. Just two days later, cooperative efforts between ungersk polis (Hungarian police), Europol, and Sydöstjyllands polis located the missing minor. According to a press statement issued by Danish police, officials immediately worked to repatriate the teenager. By Sunday, she arrived back in Denmark and safely reunited with her family.
“We are glad that she is now home again and reunited with her family,” said deputy inspector Christian Skyt from Sydöstjyllands polis. “On the family’s behalf, we want to ask media to respect their wish for peace and quiet and refrain from contacting them.”
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Contrasting Legal Views on Criminal Suspicions
While Danish investigators actively pursue a criminal angle in the case, international partners hold differing perspectives. Hungarian police informed TV2 that the girl was located by officers in Berettyóújfalu—a town situated near the Romanian border in the Hajdú-Bihar region of eastern Hungary. Despite the active stance taken by Denmark, ungersk polis stated they do not believe any crime took place.
Danish authorities remain tight-lipped regarding specific details of the ongoing inquiry. “I cannot go into further details about the circumstances or the details for the sake of our investigation, but I can confirm that there are suspects in the case,” stated deputy inspector Christian Skyt on Friday.
The Investigation on the Ground in Hungary
Local reporting reveals conflicting accounts regarding the exact location where the minor was found. According to Ekstrabladet, a Hungarian man in his 20s was remanded in custody in his absence on suspicion of aggravated unlawful deprivation of liberty during a closed court hearing held on Friday.
An Ekstrabladet reporter stationed outside the police station in Berettyóújfalu spoke with a local officer familiar with the case. The officer stated that the girl was actually found not in Berettyóújfalu, but rather in the nearby small town of Újiráz. When the reporter visited Újiráz to speak with locals familiar with the male suspect, their willingness to talk abruptly ended after one resident received a phone call from the town’s mayor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the missing Danish girl found?
She was located in Hungary following an international search effort involving Europol and local police.
Is anyone in custody regarding the disappearance?
According to Ekstrabladet, a Hungarian man in his 20s was detained in his absence by a court on suspicion of aggravated unlawful deprivation of liberty.
Do authorities agree on whether a crime occurred?
No. While Sydöstjyllands polis suspects a crime and has confirmed suspects in the case, ungersk polis stated they do not believe a crime was committed.
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