Man throws women off bridge at German castle tourist spot, killing one
‘US man sexually assaults two American women’ then throws them off 300ft-high bridge at famous German castle tourist spot, killing one of them
- It is understood that the two women were on the Marienbrücke bridge
- The narrow footbridge crosses a gorge at a height of around 300 feet
- Did you witness the attack? Contact: chris.jewers@mailonline.co.uk
A man has thrown two women off a 300ft-high bridge – killing one of them – at a world-famous German castle after sexually assaulting them, reports have said.
The attack happened at Neuschwanstein castle, said to have been the inspiration for Disney’s ‘Cinderella’ castle. Police said the man fled but was arrested.
It is understood that the two women were on the Marienbrücke bridge, a narrow footbridge that crosses a gorge at a height of around 300 feet, when attacked.
According to German tabloid Bild, the 31-year-old man first sexually assaulted the two women at the popular tourist attraction on Wednesday afternoon. The newspaper reported that all three were American.
It reports that there was then a scuffle, before the man threw them both over the railings and into the ravine below.
It is understood that the two women were on the Marienbrücke bridge (pictured), a narrow footbridge that crosses a gorge at a height of around 300 feet, when attacked
According to German tabloid Bild, the 31-year-old man first sexually assaulted the two women at the popular tourist attraction on Wednesday afternoon, before throwing them off
A 21-year-old woman died in a hospital overnight, while her 22-year-old companion was still in hospital with injuries, ZDF reported.
A large-scale police operation was launched at the scenic tourist attraction.
Footage from the castle purportedly showed a man being led away in handcuffs, and one of the victims being lifted out of the ravine by a helicopter.
The attack is said to have happened at the entrance to the bridge, which is hugely popular as it offers a view of the 19th century Neuschwanstein castle.
Chief Public Prosecutor Thomas Hörmann told Bild: ‘The crime happened on Wednesday around 2:40 p.m. The two tourists met the man on a hiking tour east of the Marienbrücke. And joined him.’
He said the trio had walked to the view point, where the man physically attacked the 21-year-old women. Her friend fought back, he said.
‘The 22-year-old wanted to help, so he choked her and pushed her down the slope.’
Hörmann said the 21-year-old also fell down into the ravine, where they remained lying next to each other around ‘at a depth of about 50 meters’ (165ft).
The 22-year-old was responsive, the prosecutor said. Her friend was airlifted to hospital here she was pronounced dead.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow…
Prosecutors say a man has attacked two women near the Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, and one woman has died