The kidnapping alert plan was triggered this Wednesday evening after the disappearance in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday of an 8-year-old girl in Dunkirk (North). Little Malek is likely to be in the presence of her father Jamel, 40, according to the text released by the judicial police.
What happened?
Malek, 8 years old, disappeared at the level of the Avenue de la Libération in Dunkirk on the night of June 6 to 7. She was not at the family home when a woman "aged 29, was found dead with three of the four children safe and sound," told AFP a source close to the investigation, confirming information from the site Actu17.
The victim had traces of strangulation, as well as bruises, according to this source, which specifies that it was discovered by his mother, the grandmother of the children. According to BFM, Malek would be the daughter of the victim's spouse, whom he had from a previous union. The child's mother is believed to be in Italy.
"The couple has had disputes before. The spouse is necessarily in the list of suspects, first of the kidnapping, then potentially (of the death) of his wife but everything in its time, "said this source. The suspect, of Tunisian nationality, is known to the police and justice, according to this source.
Contacted by AFP, the prefecture of the North and the prosecutor's office of Dunkirk did not wish to comment. The judicial police is in charge of the investigation.
How to identify the little girl and her father?
Malek has "long, black, curly hair" and "black eyes". His father Jamel is "1.84 m", has "black hair", is of "normal build, with tattoos on the neck and wrist". They are likely to travel in a green Renault Twingo, registered DM 485 GJ.
đź”´ Kidnapping alert underway in the North
More information >> https://t.co/bqgBIkWNF4@Interieur_Gouv, @PoliceNationale, @Gendarmerie pic.twitter.com/Y1CDZ9FMpz
— Department of Justice (@justice_gouv) June 7, 2023
"If you locate the child or suspect, do not intervene yourself, call 197 immediately or email alerte.enlevement@interieur.gouv.fr," police said.
Why is the Abduction Alert plan triggered?
The last kidnapping alert was triggered on May 25 for little Eya, 10, kidnapped in Isère by her father and an accomplice, while she was walking in the street with her mother. The latter had been gassed with a tear gas.
The girl was found about thirty hours later in Denmark, where her captors were arrested after the issuance of a European arrest warrant.
The "Abduction Alert" plan is a massive and immediate alert system deployed to assist in the search for a child presumed abducted. It is largely inspired by the "Amber Alert" plan, created in Texas in 1996, after the kidnapping and murder of little Amber Hagerman.
Adopted in France in February 2006, it consists of launching a massive alert in the event of the abduction of a minor child to mobilize the population in the search for the child and his abductor. It was triggered in France about thirty times.
It is activated only if several criteria are met: there must be a proven abduction and not a simple disappearance, the victim must be a minor, his physical integrity or life must be in danger and information must make it possible to locate him.