Europe Hunts 19 Fugitives Who Preyed on Kids and Seniors

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Europol and the European Network of Fugitive Active Search Teams launched a new EU Most Wanted appeal on November 12, 2026 for 19 fugitives wanted across 14 countries for crimes against children and older people, officials announced.

Read the Europol release: https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/eu-most-wanted-19-fugitives-wanted-for-targeting-vulnerable

The appeal covers cases from 14 countries, according to the release.

The fugitives include both people wanted to face criminal proceedings and convicted offenders who are evading justice, according to the release.

Child Exploitation, Fraud Against Seniors, And Cases In 14 Countries

According to the release, the cases involve child sexual exploitation and fraud aimed at older people.

The countries seeking fugitives in the appeal are Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland and Spain, according to the release.

Officials said the offences involve people who may be less able to protect themselves, from children subjected to sexual exploitation to older people targeted for financial gain, according to the release.

Locating the fugitives can help bring justice to victims and prevent further offences, according to the release.

Anonymous Tips, National Fugitive Teams, And A Warning Not To Approach

Members of the public can view the profiles on the EU Most Wanted website, which is hosted by Europol, according to the release.

National fugitive teams publish the profiles and directly receive information submitted about their cases, according to the release.

Officials asked the public to share information anonymously through the website and not to approach a wanted person, according to the release.

A familiar face or information about a person's whereabouts could provide the lead investigators need, according to the release.

Ten Years, 191 Arrests, And 58 Cases Helped By Public Tips

ENFAST and Europol launched the EU Most Wanted website in 2016, and it marks its tenth anniversary this year, according to the release.

Since then, 191 fugitives have been arrested while their profiles were published on the website, according to the release.

In 58 of those cases, information submitted by the public through the site helped make the arrests possible, according to the release.

So far in 2026, 16 fugitives featured on the website have been arrested, including four whose arrests were made possible through public tips, according to the release.

Anyone who recognises a person featured in the appeal can submit information anonymously through the EU Most Wanted website hosted by Europol. Officials said not to approach a wanted person.

Sources Europol — Official News Release, November 12, 2026: https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/eu-most-wanted-19-fugitives-wanted-for-targeting-vulnerable