The confirmation was made by Marie-Christine Tarrare, the prosecutor of Bourg-en-Bresse in the east of the country.

A 39-year old man was taken into custody on Sunday for questioning. Tarrare told a news conference that the suspect refuses to speak to investigators. “He is completely silent and hasn’t given any information about what happened.”

Tarrare gave more information about the suspect, including the fact that he was found guilty in November 2009 for distribution of pornographic images involving children. He had recently broken the terms of his sentence and had not responded to a requirement to visit his medical supervisor.

The young girl was taken at around 12.30pm on Sunday from outside her home in Niévroz. Her parents alerted the police when they discovered her abandoned bike and part of her shoe. She was discovered later that afternoon abandoned at the side of the road. Her suspected abductor was caught by police shortly afterwards.

The man is expected to be charged today for abduction and sexual assault of a minor. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison.