Patrols begin at the homes of German schoolgirls who murdered a 12-year-old fearing vigilante attacks

Police are patrolling the homes of two schoolgirls who fatally stabbed a classmate in a horrific crime that has rocked Germany over fears of vigilante attacks.

Officials have urged people not to share the names and pictures of the suspects – aged 12 and 13 – on social media, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Images of the girls with the word “Killer” are readily available on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook as outrage over the fact that both girls will evade justice because they are under the age of 14, which is criminal responsibility in Germany, continues to increase.

Death threats have been made against the girls online and they and their families have been moved from their homes in the sleepy village of Freudenberg, near Cologne, after Luise Frisch, 12, was brutally stabbed to death earlier this month.

Patrol cars have been stationed outside the suspects’ homes and it is unlikely their families will ever be able to return.

Luise’s body was found in the sleepy village of Freudenberg near Cologne on March 12 – a day after she was reported missing by her concerned parents

Police (pictured near the Freudenberg crime scene) have also urged people not to share the suspects’ names and pictures on social media

A police statement said: “Following the homicide in Freudenberg, the public prosecutor’s office and the police warn against speculation and the resulting spread of false reports.

“Due to the broad public interest and the associated sympathy, rumors about the alleged background of the incident keep appearing. Apparently there is speculation, especially on social media, that does not match the current status of the investigation. The public’s need for information is very high in the present case, but due to the protection of all personal rights by the investigating authorities, no detailed information can be published.

“The public prosecutor’s office and the police are therefore asking you not to participate in speculation, also to protect the relatives, and not to heat up the discussions about the background to the incident.”

Luise was stabbed more than 30 times in the attack by her twisted killers, and her body was then pushed down an embankment in a remote forest.

The suspects even posted a picture of themselves dancing on TikTok the next day, when Luise’s body was found by police after her concerned parents sounded the alarm.

A private memorial service will be held for her later this week at the Evangelical Church in Freudenberg, where her family was praying, and will be broadcast back to her school for friends.

Despite public outrage that both girls are not facing criminal charges, judges and the Justice Department have said the age limit law is unlikely to be changed.

This is murdered German schoolgirl Luise Frisch (right) who appears in a TikTok video with a 12-year-old classmate accused of killing her

The 13-year-old suspect also posted a video on TikTok showing herself dancing just hours after the tragic Luise was found

Speaking to MailOnline, a senior official at the German Association of Judges warned against a knee-jerk reaction to the country’s lowering of the age of criminal responsibility.

Law professor Gerd Hamme said “decisions made during “emotionally heated” events are not a “good basis” for law changes – as an online petition calling for a law change has garnered nearly 150,000 signatures.

Currently, the age of criminal responsibility is 14 in Germany – 10 in Britain – and the murder of Luise, the first child of a child in living memory, has sparked a major debate over when a young person should be brought to justice.

An autopsy conducted at the University of Mainz described it as “a bloody assault and frenzied killing” – all of which has led to calls for an age limit for children brought to justice to change.

Professor Hamme said: “In Germany it is the task of the legislature to check whether 14 years is the correct limit of criminal responsibility. A change only seems necessary to me if the abilities of the children and young people and their maturity have changed compared to before.

“I have no evidence of this and the current point in time is in any case very unsuitable for making decisions about changing the criminal jurisdiction limit. Because at the moment the mood is emotionally very heated. This is perfectly understandable, but not a good basis for revising tried-and-tested regulations. It’s better to approach this with a cool head.

Flowers and candles were placed near the spot where Luise’s body was discovered last week

“There is public discussion about changing the limits of criminal liability because of the terrible crime in Freudenberg. However, the discussion is not characterized by factual arguments, but by dismay and horror. In my opinion, the legislator should check whether our current regulations are still appropriate.

“However, after the Freudenberg case, they should allow some time before making any decisions. It is correct that the two alleged perpetrators cannot be charged by a public prosecutor and convicted by a criminal court. But the state is not standing idly by.

“Rather, the youth welfare offices in Germany take over. There are several parental measures that can be taken.

“This goes so far that the children can be taken from their families if necessary. However, there is no way the children can go back to their old normal lives. You will not stay in Freudenberg either. This is excluded.

“In any case, there has to be a change of location. It is also possible that there will be a name change later. However, this will not be decided immediately.’

But the comments on the online petition clearly outweighed Professor Hamme’s opinion – because a change in the law was called for.

Desiree Engels said: “They need justice, a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old know exactly what is right and wrong. You can tell the difference very well.’

Monice Bremer said: “Murder is not a trivial offense, everyone had to reckon with the consequences of their behavior, what kind of monsters do they do something so cruel, what will become of them when they grow up, if there are no consequences.”

Luise Frisch’s body was found on March 12 in a wooded area near the town of Freudenberg in North Rhine-Westphalia

Due to their age, none of the killers can be tried under German law, and officers have removed them and their families from the area for their own safety

A spokesman for Germany’s Justice Ministry told MailOnline it was very unlikely that the law would be changed after the murder.

The spokesman said: “The violent death of a little girl is terrible news. It is deeply saddening that it appears that two little girls committed this heinous act.

‘Nevertheless, there are currently no plans to lower the existing age limit.’

They added: “The question is whether a child can understand his actions and their consequences in a given situation and whether he can base his behavior on this insight.

“According to experts in psychology, educational science, criminology and, for some years now, neuroscience, children under the age of 14 generally do not yet have the necessary moral and intellectual maturity.

“Furthermore, criminal punishment cannot be considered an appropriate response to the misconduct of such young children.

“The principle of human dignity and the responsibility of the state for the upbringing and development of children are important.”