Disappearance of Lyhanna: 180 gendarmes deployed in Gers, man remanded in custody
For five days, a large-scale operation has been underway near Fleurance to find Lyhanna, 10 years old. A suspect has been charged with abduction and remanded in custody.
Disappearance of Lyhanna: 180 gendarmes deployed in Gers, man remanded in custody
Since Friday 29 May, a ten-year-old girl has been reported missing in the Gers department. On Tuesday 2 June, the fifth day of her disappearance, the search continued with the arrival of reinforcements on the ground.
The investigation is focused on the Bellevue woodland, situated in the vicinity of Fleurance. Gendarmerie personnel are conducting a thorough examination of this forested area. Unmanned aircraft as well as helicopters are carrying out aerial surveillance. Diving specialists are meanwhile exploring bodies of water in the vicinity.
The number of personnel mobilised stands at 180 gendarmes. Over the course of four days, teams have combed a zone corresponding to twelve kilometres in radius from the municipality where the child was last seen. The operation covers forest massifs, watercourses and bodies of water.
The main suspect was charged with abduction and remanded in custody on Monday. Colonel Philippe de Laforcade, head of the gendarmerie unit for the department, acknowledged that each additional hour complicated the task, whilst maintaining that the motivation of the troops remained intact.
The child's relatives preferred not to address the media, settling for a brief message: their attention is entirely focused on the search operations, which they regard as never-ending.
The municipality of Fleurance coordinated the participation of local residents. Farmers, horsemen and hunters were called upon to contribute to the search sweeps. Private individuals also joined the teams. One resident explained her action by a sense of parental solidarity: the family is going through a terrible ordeal and is searching for their child, it is natural to offer one's assistance.
Objects were collected during the search and are currently undergoing expert analysis. The authorities are asking that no hasty conclusions be drawn regarding their relevance to the investigation.
Source: franceinfo
Source: France Info