In the case of a six-year-old who was rescued from the Saale in Halle in Saxony-Anhalt, the investigators assume a criminal offense.
There is sufficient suspicion for this, said a spokesman for the prosecutor.
Now the police are looking for a man with phantom images.
According to the police and the public prosecutor's office, the suspect is said to have carried the child through the city center early on Sunday morning "most likely mostly in his arms".
The distance is several hundred meters, across the market square to the Saale.
The girl was only dressed in gray-beige pajamas with animal motifs and purple stockings.
The stranger is said to be between the ages of 20 and 40.
The nine-member investigative group "Elsa", formed to clear up the case, hopes to gather information from the population about the man's identity and whereabouts.
His hair was shaved and possibly dyed red.
For tactical reasons, the investigators did not want to comment on whether it was a kidnapping or another crime.
No investigation against the parents
According to the police, two joggers had rescued the girl from the hall on Sunday at around 8:30 a.m.
A runner had previously heard calls for help on the river.
The child was taken to a hospital.
"According to the circumstances," said the prosecutor.
He did not provide any further details.
The girl lives in the city with her parents.
According to the information, they had seen their child for the last time in the apartment on Sunday at around 7:30 a.m. and reported it to the police as missing.
The prosecutor said that the parents are still not being investigated.
Icon: The mirror
bbr / dpa