The victim, who police have only identified by her first name Luise, was found dead on Sunday, March 12 in a forest near the town of Freudenberg, about 2km from her home.
She had reportedly been stabbed more than 30 times.
Two of her classmates, girls aged 12 and 13, were then taken into police custody and admitted to the crime, German police said on Tuesday.
Because of their ages, the girls are not subject to criminal law which only takes effect for minors from the age of 14 in Germany.
They were therefore not arrested, but taken into the custody of a welfare office.
While police have not suggested a motive, German newspaper Bild has reported the killing was an act of “revenge” after Luise confided in adults that the two girls had been bullying her for months.
An autopsy confirmed the 12-year-old girl had died from severe blood loss.
She had gone missing on Saturday, March 11, after she visited a friend then never returned home.
Her parents called police when couldn’t get in touch with her, sparking a police search.
The governor of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Freudenberg is located, has spoken out about the shocking crime.
“North Rhine-Westphalia is grieving,” Hendrik Wuest said.
“It is incomprehensible and unbearable that children are capable of such horrible acts.”
He promised authorities would do everything in their power to shed light on the reasons and circumstances of the crime.
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Last modified: November 22, 2022
