According to local media, including TV MIDTVEST, a 21-year-old man from Viborg was arrested after being accused of attempting to rape a 13-year-old girl.
The duty chief of the Midt-og Vestjyllands Politi, Anders Bøje Hansen, reported that the young man was arrested on Sunday after being accused of attempting to rape a minor under the age of fifteen.
The investigation indicates that the young man lured the girl into his car around 3:00 PM on Saturday. According to the indictment, he touched her inappropriately and then attempted to rape her.
The father passed by and saw his daughter in the car.
Meanwhile, the girl’s father happened to be passing by and saw his daughter inside the car, so he managed to get her out. While the perpetrator fled, the father managed to record the car’s license plate number, which enabled the police to identify the accused and arrest him at 12:30 after midnight.
The young man was arrested and detained for four weeks.
At a court hearing on Sunday, the young man was charged with attempted rape, committing a non-intercourse sexual act with a minor, and violating indecency laws, the public prosecutor, Søren Kløvborg Laustsen, said. The hearing was held behind closed doors due to the sensitivity of the case, according to the source.
The suspect's car was also impounded for technical inspection.
Although the young man admitted to some of the facts, he denied the charges of attempted rape and sexual act, and did not appeal the decision to detain him in custody.
Police: The suspect and the victim communicated via social media.
According to the source, Anders Boeh Hansen explained that the investigations later revealed prior contact between the girl and the perpetrator via a social networking site, but the police do not believe that they knew each other, and it is likely that Saturday’s meeting was their first face-to-face encounter.
Hansen said: “Fortunately, these are not everyday incidents, but they are a stark reminder of how dangerous the digital world can be for children.”.
Warnings and recommendations from the police to parents
Following the incident, Hansen urged parents to pay attention to their children's digital lives, saying: "It is helpful for parents to be aware of who their children are communicating with on social media. This is extremely important." He added: "It's like walking a tightrope. Parental curiosity should not lead to a child's isolation or loss of trust in their parents, but rather the relationship should be based on mutual trust, where the child feels comfortable talking if they make a mistake or feel threatened.".
Tips from the Børns Vilkår organization for protecting children online
In addition to the police statements, the children's rights organization Børns Vilkår provided a set of awareness guidelines for parents to protect their children in the digital world.
The organization recommended that the dialogue should begin with a genuine interest in the things that children like, and the situations that cause them anxiety or discomfort, which helps to create a safe environment for dialogue and openness, according to the source.
