Police Considered Risk to Christina Block Following Children's Abduction, Court Hears

The ongoing legal proceedings at the Hamburg Regional Court have shed new light on the events following the abduction of the children belonging to Christina Block. During the latest hearing, a criminal investigator testified that authorities initially considered Christina Block herself to be at potential risk in the immediate aftermath of the abduction from her former husband's residence in Denmark.

According to the investigator, the Hamburg police were notified by their Danish counterparts around midday on January 1, 2024, and were tasked with informing Block about the abduction. Efforts to reach her at her residence and at the family-owned Grand Elysée Hotel were unsuccessful. The police, aware of the family's significant assets, regarded the situation as potentially dangerous for Block, fearing she may have been targeted as well.

Subsequent investigation revealed a potential lead when navigation devices from two rental vehicles, allegedly used by the suspected kidnappers and later returned at the airport, contained the address of the Grand Elysée Hotel. This discovery shifted suspicions and led authorities to consider Block's possible involvement in the planning of the abduction.

The incident in question occurred on New Year's Day, when Block's two children, aged 10 and 13, were taken by the alleged perpetrators to a farm in Baden-Württemberg. Christina Block reportedly collected the children from this location and brought them to Hamburg. The entrepreneur is accused of commissioning an Israeli security firm to carry out the abduction. Block, daughter of the founder of the Block House steakhouse chain, denies this allegation.

The case is set against the backdrop of a longstanding and contentious custody dispute between Block and her former spouse, Stephan Hensel, involving their youngest two of four children. The conflict dates back to the summer of 2021, when the children failed to return to Hamburg after a scheduled visit with their father in Denmark.

Block's legal team maintains that she acted without criminal intent. Her defense argues that she spent New Year's Eve at the hotel and was sleeping at home the following morning, undermining the suggestion of a premeditated plan. The defense further claims that if the police had been able to contact her immediately, it would have demonstrated her innocence and prevented further suspicion.

Among the six other defendants is Gerhard Delling, Christina Block's partner, who faces charges of assisting in the alleged crime. Delling, a former sports presenter, denies any wrongdoing. Testimony from the investigator indicated that police had several telephone conversations with Delling on New Year's Day. Delling stated he had driven Block home after the celebrations but was unaware of her current whereabouts. He also offered to assist police in checking Block's residence using a spare key.

Another investigator recounted a visit to Block's residence, accompanied by Delling and the family's lawyer, to determine whether there were any signs of a struggle. The lawyer permitted the search, and the investigator noted that both Delling and the lawyer did not appear surprised or concerned during the process, though they did express strong emotions regarding the ongoing custody dispute. Delling reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of state support for Block during the ordeal.

Delling's legal representation clarified that his client only knew that Block had traveled independently, and later helped facilitate communication between Block and the police to confirm her and the children's wellbeing. Block subsequently sent a photograph from the farm in southern Germany on the evening of New Year's Day, showing herself and the children resting.

The court had intended to hear testimony from several witnesses based in Israel at the next session. However, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, four key witnesses are currently unable to travel to Germany, delaying their appearances. The presiding judge communicated that the court would monitor the situation and adjust proceedings as circumstances permit.