In desperate search for Arian: A missing child and a community's race against time

A six-year-old named Arian, who is on the autism spectrum, disappeared into a forest, leaving behind only a video recording of the moment. The search has now been underway for a week.

Arian, a child from Bremervörde in Lower Saxony, has been missing for a week after leaving home unnoticed on the evening of 22 April. A city surveillance camera caught the child sprinting towards the forest, prompting a widespread search throughout the city and its surroundings by emergency services.

About 1,200 people joined the search for Arian on Sunday, 28 April, but so far, no trace of the child has been found. Arian's autism might cause the child not to respond to calls, a specialist mentioned.

A police spokesperson reported that rescuers scoured an area north of Arian's home on Sunday. They formed a nearly mile-long human chain, employing boats, drones, and search dogs. For the first time, cyclists also joined the search operation.

– I have never led a search of this magnitude before, said Jörg Wesemann, who oversees the police operations in Rotenburg. The search, covering approximately six square miles, continued until dusk and will continue into Monday.

The police remain hopeful. – Giving up is not part of our plans, the spokesperson stated on Sunday evening. – We are conducting searches around the clock, – she highlighted.

The search radius has been extended to include more remote areas, though the police still believe Arian has not been a victim of a crime.

Before the weekend, Arian's parents shared on social media how the public could assist in finding their child. – We think Arian has started a big adventure, – they said. They believe that Arian might be moving and hiding not only within Bremervörde but also in nearby towns. They expressed their gratitude towards everyone involved in the search.

Initially, efforts to attract the boy's attention with children's songs, balloons, and fireworks were unsuccessful. Over the weekend, the search strategy was altered, instructing rescuers to maintain silence during their efforts.