Girl found in Serbia; manhunt goes on for suspected abductor

A 12-year-old girl who disappeared 10 days ago and was believed to be abducted by a convicted pedophile has been found alive, Serbian police said Sunday.

Police were still searching for the suspected kidnapper in the case that has gripped the Balkan nation, Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said.

The suspect spent 12 years in prison for raping one young girl and attempting to rape another.

He was released last year. He recently spent another five months in prison for harassing women on social media.

Local media said the 12-year-old girl had been taken to a hospital in the southern city of Nis. No other details were immediately available.

Police have said hundreds of officers and volunteers were involved in the massive manhunt for the kidnapper, using sniffer dogs and helicopters.

The man has been nicknamed in his village the "barber of Malca" for admitting in court that he cut the hair of his victims.