Lenningen (dpa / lsw) – After the discovery of an injured girl in the district of Esslingen, the police and public prosecutor’s office are now investigating the suspicion of attempted serious sexual abuse. Despite a large-scale search operation with several patrol cars and a police helicopter, the unknown perpetrator managed to escape, the authorities said on Friday.

According to the information, the ten-year-old girl was cycling on a cycle path in Lenningen on Wednesday afternoon when a teenager or young adult attacked her. “According to the current investigation results, the attacker had tried to violate the child,” it said.

Shortly before the crime, a man helped the girl to pull up the bicycle chain. The police are asking the still unknown helper, as well as other witnesses, for information about the perpetrator.