Police in six European countries, alongside Interpol, are reopening investigations into the deaths of 46 women who were either murdered or died under suspicious circumstances in a coordinated effort to identify their remains, according to a statement released by Interpol on Tuesday.
This initiative is part of an expanded operation aimed at delivering justice to the victims and providing answers to their families, said Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock.
This renewed investigation, known as Operation Identify Me, builds on a 2023 effort that initially involved Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
The operation now includes law enforcement agencies from France, Italy, and Spain. In the first phase of the project, police focused on identifying 22 women whose bodies had been discovered over the years.
Public involvement in that phase generated around 1,800 tips, leading to significant breakthroughs, including the identification of British woman Rita Roberts.
Her remains were recognized 31 years after being found in Belgium, thanks to information about a flower tattoo she had.
For the current probe, which involves 46 cases, participating police forces will use a range of forensic tools and methods, including DNA profiling and facial reconstruction, to assist in identification.
Interpol has also released extracts from its Black Notice alerts—requests for information on unidentified bodies, typically circulated only among police—to the public.
These alerts provide key details about the unidentified victims, such as biometric data and physical descriptions, to encourage further public assistance.
Stock emphasized the importance of public contributions, stating, “We can’t do it alone.”
Source-Reuters
