French authorities are investigating an alleged fake wedding ceremony held at Disneyland Paris. The theme park complex outside Paris had been booked for what was presumed to be a private wedding early Saturday morning, before the park’s regular opening hours. However, Disneyland staff and security called the police after noticing the purported “bride” was a young girl, approximately 9 years old, wearing a wedding dress. Upon investigation, the local prosecutor’s office determined the event was not a legitimate marriage ceremony, but rather a staged production with hired actors.
Two people, including a 22-year-old British man believed to have organized the event, and a 24-year-old Latvian woman, are currently in police custody on suspicion of fraud and money laundering. The young Ukrainian girl involved was not found to have suffered any abuse or coercion, and her mother, along with a 55-year-old Latvian man, were released after questioning. Disneyland Paris, which can be hired for private weddings at a premium, has filed its own legal complaint and is cooperating with the authorities’ investigation into the mysterious, staged event. (The Guardian)