Vienna
17 suspects are said to have repeatedly abused twelve-year-olds over a period of months
In Austria, the Vienna police are investigating 17 suspects for sexual offenses against a 12-year-old
© Matthias Röder / DPA
Serious suspicion against 17 mostly teenagers: They are said to have repeatedly persuaded a 12-year-old to have sex with threats. It wasn’t until months later that the alleged victim contacted the police.
According to police findings, a twelve-year-old girl in Austria was repeatedly pressured into sex by a total of 17 suspects over a period of months, including threats. Police spokespersons said on Friday that investigations were underway into suspected sexual abuse Vienna with. In one case, according to the victim, violence was used, which is why a 16-year-old was accused of rape. Due to the age of the victim, even the cases in which no violence was involved were considered serious sexual abuse of a minor.
13 young people were picked up for questioning at the same time on Thursday, were later released and reported. The other suspects are either underage or their identities are still unknown. The young people are said to come from Austria, Syria, Turkey, Bulgaria, Italy and Serbia.
The now 13-year-old Austrian appeared at the police station with her mother in October 2023 and described the crimes, it was said. She felt pressured into sexual contacts partly by threats such as the announcement that she would publish pictures and a video of her.
Young people in Vienna abused for months
The incidents took place in Vienna from February 2023 to June 2023, according to the police. The victim spoke of “several times a week for several months”. Crime scenes included stairwells, parking garages, apartments and a hotel room. “Specifically, the victim often skipped school to meet the accused,” said a police spokesman.
The suspects, almost all of whom were known to the police for property and violent crimes, knew each other from spending time in parks, it said. The then twelve-year-old first met one of the young people there. The series of attacks ended when the girl met her current boyfriend, who was the same age, the police said.