Italy is gripped by hunt for five-year-old Peruvian girl who was ‘bundled into a suitcase and kidnapped’ from squat occupied by 140 illegal migrants

• Kataleya Mia Chicillo Alvarez, five, went missing from Florence hotel on June 10 
• Read more: Greek authorities deny ropes from coastguard sank migrant boat 

A desperate search for a five-year-old girl who has been missing for ten days continued today in Florence, as police seized control of the former hotel where she lived.  

Kataleya Mia Chicillo Alvarez, five, from Peru, went missing on June 10 from the occupied Astor Hotel in Florence, Italy, where she was living with her family and 140 other people. 

There are two ways she could have been taken out of the hotel. Cameras recorded her playing on some steps towards a courtyard at 3.12pm before she disappeared completely. 

No traces of the five-year-old girl and her kidnappers were found in the area and the police’s working theory is that she was bundled into a trunk or suitcase and taken out one of the two exits of the hotel – although one would have required kidnappers to carry her over a wall.  

Italy’s Carabinieri Scientific Investigation Department officers and workers from local services are carrying out a desperate search for the five-year-old and have taken her toothbrush for DNA analysis. 

Relatives of the missing five-year-old girl, Kataleya, weep during a religious ceremony at the Baptist church on Sunday

A police officer checks a bin for evidence of the five-year-old, who went missing more than a week ago

On Sunday, ten police officers began to empty bins outside of the occupied hotel where Kataleya lived, while two teams of specialist officers arrived with search equipment. 

Eight forensic officers were also on the scene as investigators finally emptied the building of all of its occupants in order to conduct an unimpeded search for the first time. 

Anitmafia police are believed to be involved in the ongoing search.  

The difficult inspection of the building is set to continue tomorrow morning and the building has been manned to prevent intrusions and interference with evidence.

A nearby garage and a building in Maragliano were also combed over by officers as they believe the five-year-old might have been moved there temporarily. 

Kataleya’s family lived in a room in the former hotel which became occupied in September last year. They moved to Italy when she was six months old. 

On Saturday the building was cleared and it was discovered that 140 people were living there illegally. 

There have been several violent incidents at the hotel recently, including an attack on an Ecuadorian man, who reportedly jumped from the third floor to avoid a gang armed with knives.   

Kataleya’s parents, Kathrina Alvarez and Miguel Angel Romero, attended a church service in Via Lulli, near the hotel, to pray for the safe return of their daughter. 

A letter from the priest of the parish, Father Juan Manuel Núñez Rubio, chaplain of the Latin American community in Florence, announced that Cadinal Giuseppe Betori has asked people to pray for the missing child, La Repubblica reported.  

‘This disappearance has mobilized many people full of good will – he adds – who courageously committed themselves from the first moment they learned of the disappearance, gathered together and began the search. 

‘This disappearance saddened not only the Peruvians present in Florence, but also the whole Florentine community, even from abroad, in particular from Peru.’ 

Specialist officers gained access to the full building for the first time on Sunday after removing 140 illegal occupants 

The Peruvian community in Florence gathers in the street with placards to plead for the return of the five-year-old

‘We welcome once again the invitation that Cardinal Giuseppe Betori has addressed to all the parishes of the diocese of Florence to pray for the return of our Kataleya.’ 

Miguel was released from prison on Tuesday, where he had been detained since March for theft and credit card fraud, on the condition that he visit the local police station twice a week. 

He admitted that he previously had trouble at the former Astor hotel but said earlier this week: ‘I had problems here before, but I don’t think it’s this thing, I can’t believe they are involving a little girl.

Confirming that the family paid rent for their ‘share’ of the hotel, Miguel added: ‘We bought only once, we took two rooms, also my brother and my father. I think it’s a kidnapping. 

‘Maybe for extortion, I don’t know, I don’t have to judge, God will judge but my little girl has nothing to do with it. I don’t want any more problems with anyone, I love my family.’ 

Kathrina was discharged from hospital on Wednesday after ingesting bleach in desperation, saying: ‘I’ll be fine. Forgive me if for a moment I thought about giving up and losing hope. But now I’m stronger and I won’t rest until I find you.’  

The Peruvian community in Florence has repeatedly taken to the streets with placards demanding the release of the girl.  

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