The 12-year-old Rotterdam girl who went missing after telling her school she had an orthodontist appointment has been found safe at the Hilton hotel in the centre of the city, together with a 49-year-old American national.

The girl, who is undergoing medical checks, disappeared on Thursday. Police issued an amber alert saying they were very concerned for her safety, on Friday morning.

The man, whose photo was circulated by police earlier in the day, was arrested, police said in a statement. He is currently suspected of removing a minor from parental authority.

Hania left school on Thursday at around 12 am, telling her teacher she had to visit the orthodontist. But she did not have an appointment and failed to return home in the afternoon. ‘When we began looking into that, we became extremely worried about her welfare,’ a police spokesman told the AD.

Family members had reportedly told police about worrying online chats Hania had been having, which had subsequently been deleted.

Sources told the Telegraaf that the man who has been arrested has a criminal record for the sexual abuse of minors, but this has not been confirmed.

Jolijn Zeeuwen, director of the Hilton Hotel in Rotterdam, confirmed to the Telegraaf that arrest had taken place. ‘It is very uncomfortable that this happened in our hotel,’ he said. ‘We are glad the man has been arrested and the girl has been found.’

He told the AD that he could not confirm what role the hotel had played in the arrest.

The AD said the man may have recently arrived in the Netherlands because one of the photographs distributed by police shows him at Schiphol airport.