German police announced, on Tuesday, that two schoolgirls have confessed to stabbing a 12-year-old classmate to death. The victim, named Louise, went missing on Saturday afternoon after leaving a friend’s house near Freudenberg in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, reports Al Rai daily.
Louise was later found dead in the woods near her home. The child died as a result of numerous knife wounds that caused her to bleed, stated Mario Manfeller, the public prosecutor in Koblenz, in a press conference, adding that there is no indication that she was subjected to any sexual abuse.
Florian Luker, head of the homicide department at the Koblenz police, said that two girls, aged 12 and 13, had confessed to the murder by making statements about the matter and eventually confessed to the crime.
Manfeller added that the two girls were familiar with the victim, Louise, but he refused to give more details because of the age of the defendants, as the two girls are under 14 years old, which is the minimum age according to the law that holds their actions criminally responsible.
He explained that investigators have not yet found the knife or knives used in the attack. Louise was supposed to return home after visiting her friend.
Her disappearance sparked a massive search operation in which dozens of police officers participated, during which rafts, marches and police dogs were used.
Hendrik West, the regional commander of North Rhine-Westphalia, said he was shocked and added, “It is inconceivable or intolerable that children can commit such acts.”
Locals placed flowers and candles near the woodland area where Louise’s body was found. Police are still searching the crime scene for evidence.