Boy Rescued from Van After Years of Isolation in France

A 9-year-old boy has been rescued from his father's utility van in eastern France, where he had been locked away since November 2024. Neighbors alerted authorities after hearing sounds from the van, leading to the discovery of the child in a severely malnourished state, unable to walk. His father claimed he locked the boy up to protect him from being sent to a psychiatric hospital, despite no prior medical records indicating any issues. The father faces kidnapping charges, while the boy's sister and his father's partner's daughter have been placed in social services' care. Investigations are ongoing to determine if others were aware of the boy's situation.

Key Details: • The boy was found in a van in Hagenbach, France, after being locked inside since November 2024. • Authorities were alerted by neighbors on a Monday, leading to the child's rescue. • The father faces preliminary charges for kidnapping and is in custody. • The boy's sister and another child have been taken into social services' care.