Police Identify Suspect in Abduction and Assault of Six-Year-Old at Rulantica Water Park

In a distressing incident that has shocked the community, a six-year-old girl went missing at the Rulantica water park in Rust, Baden-Württemberg, on Saturday. The child was later found several kilometers away after a harrowing two-hour ordeal, leading authorities to launch a manhunt for a suspect believed to be involved in her abduction and sexual assault.

The young girl had reportedly lost sight of her parents while at the popular water attraction, which is part of the renowned Europa-Park Resort. According to police reports, the suspect lured the child into the indoor area of the water park around 8:20 PM before taking her into a nearby wooded area. The girl, dressed only in a blue bikini top and pink swim shorts, was discovered by a passerby at approximately 10:20 PM.

Authorities have since identified a 31-year-old Romanian man as the prime suspect, who was caught on surveillance footage. The police have issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of sexual abuse of a minor. This individual has a prior criminal history but is not known to have committed sexual offenses in the past, with previous charges relating to theft and fraud.

A spokesperson for Europa-Park confirmed that the incident took place at Rulantica and emphasized that the park has been cooperating fully with law enforcement officials. The park's management expressed their deep concern for the child's well-being and indicated that they provided support to the family during this traumatic time.

Michael Mack, the park's CEO, stated that the establishment is committed to safety and has been in close contact with the police since the incident occurred. The park promptly handed over surveillance footage to assist in the investigation, which ultimately helped in identifying the suspect.

The police are actively seeking witnesses to help reconstruct the timeline of events leading up to the abduction. They encourage anyone who observed anything suspicious between 8:20 PM and 10:20 PM on the day of the incident to contact local authorities at Tel. 0781 21-2820.

This incident follows another troubling case reported in Wiesbaden, where two men were arrested for allegedly assaulting two young girls in a swimming pool. The authorities continue to stress the importance of vigilance in public spaces to ensure the safety of all visitors.