In France, developments surrounding the mysterious murder of a 12-year-old girl are being followed with horror and curiosity. She disappeared on Friday afternoon after coming home from school. That same night she was found dead in a plastic suitcase.

Two suspects were arrested. The prime suspect is a 24-year-old woman. She is charged with the murder of a minor, rape and torture.

Lola, 12, walked to her home in north-east Paris on Friday. “Video footage shows her entering the apartment complex at around 3:15 p.m. with a woman she does not know,” the French prosecutor said. “Around 5 p.m. the woman came out again with heavy suitcases.”

These suitcases were later discovered near the building by a homeless man who alerted the police. In one of the suitcases he found Lola’s lifeless, folded body. She had injuries to her neck, among other things.

numbers on the body

The girl is said to have died of asphyxiation. “There are also injuries to the face and back,” says the OM.

But there’s more to it, the autopsy revealed. Lola’s feet are marked with the numbers 0 and 1 in red. A reason for this is unknown.

According to OM, the suspects’ statements indicate that she took the girl to her sister’s apartment in the same house and forced her to take a shower there. “After that, sexual and other violence ensued, leading to Lola’s death.”

During interrogation, the suspect first admitted to the murder, and then backed down. “I’m not getting cold or warm,” she said after being shown photos of the remains, according to AFP news agency. “I was raped myself and my parents died before my eyes.”

outrage in France

The atrocity has sparked outrage in France. Education Minister Pap Ndiaye visited the girl’s school and media speculation over a possible motive.

The suspect’s lawyer asked the press not to spread rumours. According to him, the case is neither about organ trafficking nor about “children’s rituals”, as some media reported.

political fight

The main suspect is an Algerian without valid residence papers. This has now become a political struggle. According to the right-wing politician Alexis Jolly it’s about the murder of a “French, white, Christian girl”.

Former presidential candidate Éric Zemmour spoke about the murder of Lola as an example from “Frankokzid”: a word used to say that French people are killed because they are French.

According to the police, which are quoted in the press, there is no indication that the suspect’s origin has anything to do with the murder.