French authorities have taken two minors into custody following the death of a 12-year-old boy in Rennes on Sunday evening. The Rennes public prosecutor confirmed that a 16-year-old boy was arrested on Monday morning, and a teenage girl later voluntarily presented herself to police. Both are now being held as part of a murder investigation.
The victim was discovered by witnesses in a residential area of the Breton city, with a towel tightened around his neck. Emergency responders found the child in cardiorespiratory arrest and attempted resuscitation alongside the SMUR medical team, but the doctor pronounced him dead at the scene.
Investigation Underway
The Rennes prosecutor’s office has opened an inquiry for the murder of a child under 15, assigning the case to the organised and specialised crime division. The precise circumstances of the incident remain unclear, as does the relationship between the three minors involved.
Police divers are currently searching the Vilaine River, which flows through Rennes, for potential evidence. The district, typically quiet, has been shaken by the tragedy. Local residents expressed shock and difficulty comprehending the death of such a young boy.
According to initial reports, a fisherman heard a child screaming but could not locate him. Shortly afterward, other witnesses found the boy and alerted emergency services. The boy’s parents arrived at the scene soon after the incident, as reported by Ouest-France.
This case adds to a series of troubling incidents involving minors in France. In a separate case, a French mother was arrested in Portugal after her children were found abandoned in Alcácer do Sal. Meanwhile, broader trends in child welfare and legal responses continue to draw attention across Europe.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities focusing on forensic analysis and witness interviews. The two teenagers remain in custody as the judicial process unfolds.
