Paris woman arrested for killing girl found in suitcase

French authorities have arrested a 24-year-old woman on suspicion of murdering a 12-year-old girl. Her girl’s body was found in a plastic suitcase outside her home in Paris.

The death of a young girl named Laura quickly became a source of political tension, with opposition parties using profiles of suspected illegal immigrants to demand tougher immigration policies.

The girl went missing on Friday afternoon and her body was found that night by a homeless man outside her building in the 19th arrondissement, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office. Prosecutors said she had suffocated.

The prime suspect was seen on CCTV exiting the building in the afternoon with heavy luggage, including the suitcase in which the victim was found.

She was arrested on Monday and has been formally investigated on charges of murder, rape and acts of torture, judicial sources said.

Neighbors put flowers and candles in the girl’s honor. “I can’t stand it,” said one person who declined to give his name. Because, like many people, this breaks our hearts.”

Another neighbor said, “12 years old… poor girl… it doesn’t make sense.”

French President Emmanuel Macron met the girl’s parents. His office said he “expressed his condolences to them and assured them of all his solidarity and support for the ordeal that they have undergone and that has shaken us all.”

Some far-right and conservatives said the incident demonstrated a failure of the government’s law and order policy.

“This murder should not have happened. The assassin should not have been in France,” said Olivier Marrex, head of the conservative Les Republican Group in the National Assembly. “We have very deep feelings for our country.”

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen told parliament that “too many crimes are being committed by clandestine immigrants who could not or did not want to be deported.” Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne called on Le Pen to “show dignity”.

Attorney Alexandre Silva, who represents the suspect, told BFM TV he could not comment on the case.

Citing police and judicial sources, the newspaper said the suspect was an Algerian.