FILE – Fort Neuschwanstein, a nineteenth century creation by Bavaria’s fairy story king Ludwig II and world famend vacationer attraction, is pictured in Hohenschwangau close to Fuessen, southern Germany, on Monday, Might 9, 2011. Authorities say a person has attacked two girls close to Neuschwanstein citadel in southern Germany, killing one. Police say the ladies have been attacked Wednesday afternoon close to the favored vacationer web site and the person fled however was arrested. (AP Picture/Matthias Schrader, File)
BERLIN (AP) — An American man has been arrested over the demise of 1 U.S. vacationer and an assault on one other close to Neuschwanstein citadel in southern Germany after he allegedly pushed the 2 girls down a steep slope, authorities mentioned Thursday.
The incident close to the favored vacationer attraction occurred on Wednesday afternoon close to the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge near the citadel that gives a well-known view of Neuschwanstein.
The 30-year-old man met the 2 feminine vacationers, ages 21 and 22, on a climbing path and lured them onto a path that results in a viewpoint, police mentioned in a press release.
“The youthful of the 2 girls was attacked by the suspect,” mentioned police spokesman Holger Stabik. “The older one tried to hurry to her assist, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope. ”
The assailant then seems to have tried to sexually assault the 21-year-old earlier than pushing her down the slope as effectively. She fell almost 50 meters (165 ft), ending up near her pal.
A mountain rescue crew reached each girls. The 22-year-old was “responsive” and brought to a hospital, police mentioned; a helicopter carried the 21-year-old with critical accidents to a distinct hospital, and she or he died there in a single day.
The suspect left the scene however was rapidly arrested close by. Bystander video posted on-line confirmed police main away a handcuffed man in a T-shirt, denims and a baseball cap.
Eric Abneri, a latest enterprise graduate from the College of Pittsburgh who took the video, mentioned the person appeared to have scratches throughout his face.
“He didn’t say a single phrase. He didn’t open his mouth; he didn’t mumble,” Abneri instructed The Related Press. “He simply walked with the police and that was it.”
Abneri mentioned he and mates reached the scenic overlook as a helicopter arrived they usually noticed rescuers decrease themselves all the way down to the victims.
“I’m truthfully completely surprised somebody remains to be alive from this. It’s like falling from the highest of an absolute cliff,” he mentioned.
Abneri described it as “a really, very tough rescue due to these cliffs and since the helicopter got here mere ft above the tree line on the prime of the hill.”
“They did an unbelievable job,” he mentioned.
Police mentioned the person they arrested was American and described him as additionally a vacationer; prosecutors mentioned the ladies have been fellow U.S. residents. The 22-year-old remained hospitalized Thursday, based on prosecutors.
Authorities didn’t establish both the suspect or the victims or give any additional particulars.
Police mentioned a decide in close by Kempten on Thursday ordered the suspect held pending a possible indictment — a course of that may take months — and he was taken to jail. He’s below investigation on suspicion of homicide, tried homicide and a sexual offense.
Police mentioned they and prosecutors have been specializing in attempting to reconstruct precisely what occurred and known as for any witnesses to come back ahead.
Neuschwanstein, positioned in southern Bavaria near Austria’s border, is certainly one of Germany’s hottest vacationer points of interest.
It’s the most well-known of the castles constructed by King Ludwig II of Bavaria within the nineteenth century. Development began in 1869 however was by no means accomplished. Ludwig died in 1886.
