German police ask men in the city of Grevenbroich to take DNA tests to try to solve girl’s murder in 1996

Police have asked 900 men to step forward to be DNA tested in this town in a bid to solve the gruesome cold case murder of a young girl.

Police in the western German city of Grevenbroich have asked about 900 men to come forward and have their DNA tested to help solve the gruesome killing of an 11-year-old girl some 23 years ago.

The girl, Claudia Ruf, was kidnapped, raped and choked to death by an anonymous murderer in 1996.

Claudia Ruf seen on a police video screen as they ask for the men of Grevenbroich to submit to DNA testing. Picture: AP

Her body was found in Euskirchen, 70km south of Grevenbroich, which is situated between Düsseldorf and Cologne.

It has a population of 63,000.

German news agency dpa reported that 900 men, who were between 14 and 70 years old at the time of Ruf’s killing, have received invitations for a saliva swab test to have their DNA identified.

A police officer poses to illustrate a saliva test in Grevenbroich, Germany. Picture: AP

Investigators already unsuccessfully tested some 350 men’s DNA in 2010. They say they now found new hints that could help them find the murderer by checking the 900 men.

Claudia disappeared while walking her neighbour’s dog in Grevenbroich (between Düsseldorf and Cologne). Two days later, the eleven-year-old was found murdered.

DNA testing has been used by police for more than 30 years to aid their investigations into millions of unsolved crimes. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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Local reports say police know why the body was found so far away from home, but they are refusing to reveal any further information at this time.

Originally published as German police ask men in the city of Grevenbroich to take DNA tests to try to solve girl’s murder in 1996