Suspect detained in missing girl case

The 42-year-old man suspected of abducting 10-year-old Engla Höglund near Hedemora in Dalarna was remanded in custody on Friday.

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He is now held on probable cause of kidnapping.

"He was ready and composed following the decision,” said the suspect's lawyer Jan Kyrö to the TT news agency.

It was behind closed doors where public prosecutor Patrik Säflund made the case for why the 42-year-old should remain in custody.

He wanted to have the man detained for probable cause of kidnapping. As a contingency, Säflund also presented a request the man be held for reasonable cause, which is a lower degree of suspicion.

The 42-year-old denied the charges through his lawyer.

“He says he had nothing to do with the girl’s disappearance. After the hearing my client said he hopes that the girl is turns up soon in good condition. He thinks it’s a shame that the police are only focusing on him,” said Kyrö.

The suspicions against the man were strengthened after questioning on Thursday evening.

Police have witnesses who claim to have seen the man near where 10-year-old Engla was last seen in Stjärnsund to a greater extent than the man is willing to admit.

They claim that he stopped his vehicle there on Saturday, the same day that the girl disappeared.

“The evidence is thin. It’s not sufficient to keep him detained for either reasonable or probable cause. The information on my client isn’t unique, but rather could apply to many others who passed through Stjärnsund that afternoon," said Kyrö.

During questioning the man was also notified that he is suspected on charges of child pornography.

Police have confiscated the man’s computer and found images which could depict minors in sexual situations.

There were no new breakthroughs in the search for the Engla overnight, according to police spokesperson Karl-Göran Karlsson.

Today police deployed a 25-person strong special force, including six search dogs, to continue looking for the 10-year-old girl.