Two girls, aged 12 and 13, have admitted stabbing another 12-year-old to death in Germany.
The victim, identified only by her first name Luise, didn’t return home after visiting a friend on Saturday.
A massive police search uncovered her body the following day in a forest near a former railway station in the western town of Freudenberg.
Luise was found with a number of stab wounds and died from a huge loss of blood before the other two girls ‘revealed details of the case and then admitted to the crime’ police said.
Prosecutors told the press they are assuming the ‘crime was committed by two children from the girl’s circle of acquaintances’.
The suspects have been taken into custody, but officials refused to give any further details on their identity, motive, or whether they knew the victim from school.
They are below the age of criminal responsibility, which is 14 in Germany, so they cannot be arrested.
They were taken into a youth welfare office – a local government department specifically tasked with the support and protection of children, adolescents and families.
Prosecutor Mario Mannweiler said: ‘What might be a motive for children to commit a crime may not come to an adult’s mind.
‘So we can’t say anything on that right now because otherwise, I would be forced to mention details from the investigation and I am not allowed to do that.
‘This is a case which is shocking, both for us as well as for all of you. We are aware of that.’
Girls aged 12 and 13 'admit stabbing child, 12, to death in woodland'
The young girl was stabbed multiple times and died of blood loss.
