Worldwide interest in ‘Berlin forest boy’ Ray
Weeks after a teenage boy emerged in Berlin claiming to have lived in the forest for five years, Channel 4 News learns people from across the world have come forward claiming to have links to him.
The 17-year old boy, who calls himself Ray, says he does not remember where his family is from and that he followed his compass north to reach the German city after his father died.
He appeared at Berlin’s city hall on 5 September and was taken in by a youth emergency centre.
In September the woman supervising Ray’s case told Channel 4 News he was in good health and that he may be allowed to move in with foster parents.
Since then reports have emerged about a Swiss couple who claim that Ray is their grandson.
But German authorities have told Channel 4 News that people from all over the world have claimed to know, or be related, to the teenager.
Police are investigating all of these claims and say that if they prove credible there is the possibility of a DNA test, although under German law the teenager could not be forced to take such a test.
Where is Ray from?
There was initial speculation that he may be British because he spoke English and only a few words of German.
But since he turned up in Berlin, questions have been raised about his story. His tent was in a better condition than expected after being in the forest for so long and he was in good health.
Berlin police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf told The Daily Telegraph: “He was clean and wearing clean clothes.
“He just doesn’t look like a boy who lived in the forest for any amount of time. Maybe he is telling us a story that isn’t true and that is why he doesn’t want to go public.
“His fingernails were well kept and his hands soft. Such things raise questions.”