Two of German heiress Christina Block’s young children were allegedly snatched from their father shortly after the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Day.
The kidnapping took place as Stephan Hensel was distracted and watching fireworks alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Klara, and 10-year-old son, Theodor, at Caféodora restaurant in Gråsten, Denmark, according to German newspaper Bild.
Several men reportedly knocked down the 49-year-old and allegedly forced the two children to get into a rental car as the suspects fled the scene in two vehicles.
The getaway cars are described as a Citroën DS7 Crossback with license plate DN-AV 9551 and a Mercedes A-Class with license plate number WI-W 6481 E. Both vehicles are reportedly registered in Germany.
Danish authorities told Bild that they launched a manhunt and then the German federal police became involved at 1:07 a.m. local time.
However, German state police in Schleswig-Holstein reportedly took over at 2:53 a.m. with Hamburg also helping in the investigation since that is where the children’s mother resides.
Christina, whose father, Eugen Block, owns the largest steakhouse chain in Germany, Block House, has reportedly been involved in a custody dispute with Hensel for years over their four kids.
Aside from Klara and Theodor, whose whereabouts remain unknown, the former married couple also share two older daughters Johanna, 17, and Greta, 15. The eldest reportedly “voluntarily” chose to live with her dad, while the second oldest lives with her mom.
However, it appears that custody rights over the two youngest has been an ongoing problem for Christina and Hensel, with Bild reporting that in 2021, the father reportedly kept Klara and Theodor with him in Denmark longer than he was supposed to.
Christina reportedly also told Bild that when her mother — the children’s grandmother — died of cancer in July, Klara and Theodor were allegedly not allowed to say goodbye.
“I have sent gifts and letters to the three of them — but I don’t know if they will arrive,” the heiress previously told Bild shortly before Christmas.
“And then I wonder what words my ex-husband will use to give the gifts to my children. Does he present it benevolently or does he denigrate the content? I don’t know and that hurts.”
Authorities are reportedly investigating whether Christina and Hensel’s custody issues are related to the kidnapping.
