More than two decades after little Hilal disappeared, the Hamburg police searched a wooded area on the northern outskirts of the city.
The officials followed a lead, said a spokesman. The investigators also consistently evaluated old files - in this context they came across the case of a sex offender who had already been convicted several times.
This has now led to the 2.7 hectare forest being searched. The police were on duty with 18 to 25 officers every day for 25 days. According to the information, a body of water was also searched with the help of divers. At first there was no hot lead. There is no concrete evidence of a crime, said the police spokesman. For example, metal objects were secured, which are now being evaluated.
The then ten-year-old Turkish girl has been missing since January 27, 1999. Hilal had brought home a good half-year report that day. The father allowed the daughter to buy sweets in the neighboring shopping center "Elbgaupassage". Since then, Hilal has disappeared.
