neuschwanstein tourist dead

American man pushed 2 U.S. tourists into ravine at German castle, killing one woman, police say

An American man has been arrested in the death of a U.S. tourist and an assault on another near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany after he allegedly pushed the two women down a steep slope, authorities said Thursday.

The incident near the popular tourist attraction happened on Wednesday afternoon near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a famous view of Neuschwanstein.

The 30-year-old man met the two female tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint, police said in a statement.

He then “physically attacked” the younger woman, police said. When her companion tried to intervene, he choked her and pushed her down a steep slope.

The assailant then appears to have attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well. She fell nearly 165 feet, ending up close to her friend.

A mountain rescue team reached both women. The 22-year-old was “responsive” and taken to a hospital, police said; a helicopter carried the 21-year-old to a different hospital with serious injuries, and she died there overnight.

The suspect left the scene but was arrested quickly nearby. Bystander video posted online showed police leading away a handcuffed man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

Witness Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who shot the video, said the man appeared to have scratches across his face.

“He did not say a single word. He didn’t open his mouth; he didn’t mumble,” Abneri told The Associated Press. “He just walked with the police and that was it.”

Abneri said he and friends arrived at the scenic overlook as a helicopter arrived and they saw rescuers lower themselves down to the victims.

“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff,” he said.

Abneri described it as “a very, very difficult rescue because of those cliffs and because the helicopter came mere feet above the tree line at the top of the hill.”

“They did an unbelievable job,” he said.

Police said the man they arrested was American and described him as also a tourist; prosecutors said the women were fellow U.S. citizens. The 22-year-old remained hospitalized Thursday, according to prosecutors.

Authorities didn’t identify either the suspect or the victims or give any further details.

Police said a judge in nearby Kempten on Thursday ordered the suspect held pending a potential indictment — a process that can take months — and he was taken to jail. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense.

Police said they and prosecutors were focusing on trying to reconstruct exactly what happened and called for any witnesses to come forward.

Neuschwanstein, located in southern Bavaria close to Austria’s border, is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions.

It is the most famous of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century. Construction started in 1869 but was never completed. Ludwig died in 1886.

US tourist killed after man pushed her off steep slope at popular castle in Germany, police say

BERLIN — An American man has been arrested over the death of one U.S. tourist and an assault on another near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany after he allegedly pushed the two women down a steep slope, authorities said Thursday.

The incident near the popular tourist attraction happened on Wednesday afternoon near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a famous view of Neuschwanstein.

The 30-year-old man met the two female tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint, police said in a statement.

"The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect," said police spokesman Holger Stabik. "The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope. "

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The assailant then appears to have attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well. She fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), ending up close to her friend.

A mountain rescue team reached both women. The 22-year-old was "responsive" and taken to a hospital, police said; a helicopter carried the 21-year-old with serious injuries to a different hospital, and she died there overnight.The suspect left the scene but was quickly arrested nearby. Bystander video posted online showed police leading away a handcuffed man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who took the video, said the man appeared to have scratches across his face.

"He did not say a single word. He didn't open his mouth; he didn't mumble," Abneri told The Associated Press. "He just walked with the police and that was it."

Abneri said he and friends reached the scenic overlook as a helicopter arrived and they saw rescuers lower themselves down to the victims.

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"I'm honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff," he said.

Abneri described it as "a very, very difficult rescue because of those cliffs and because the helicopter came mere feet above the tree line at the top of the hill."

"They did an unbelievable job," he said.

Police said the man they arrested was American and described him as also a tourist; prosecutors said the women were fellow U.S. citizens. The 22-year-old remained hospitalized Thursday, according to prosecutors.

Authorities didn't identify either the suspect or the victims or give any further details.

Police said a judge in nearby Kempten on Thursday ordered the suspect held pending a potential indictment — a process that can take months — and he was taken to jail. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense.

Police said they and prosecutors were focusing on trying to reconstruct exactly what happened and called for any witnesses to come forward.

Neuschwanstein, located in southern Bavaria close to Austria's border, is one of Germany's most popular tourist attractions.

It is the most famous of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century. Construction started in 1869 but was never completed. Ludwig died in 1886.

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An American is arrested over the death of a U.S. tourist at a German castle

The Associated Press

Authorities say a tourist has died after a man attacked her and a companion near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany. The incident near the popular tourist attraction close to the Austrian border happened Wednesday afternoon. Frank Rumpenhorst/AP hide caption

Authorities say a tourist has died after a man attacked her and a companion near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany. The incident near the popular tourist attraction close to the Austrian border happened Wednesday afternoon.

BERLIN — Police in southern Germany are appealing for photos and videos taken by witnesses of an attack near Neuschwanstein castle in which an American man allegedly pushed two women down a steep slope, killing one of them. A suspect was arrested following the attack.

German news agency dpa quoted police as saying Friday that they have so far received about a dozen submissions on a specially created website , but assume many more images were taken by tourists present at the site.

"We are looking for photographs which, by chance, show two young women and a man (approx. 30 years old) who were staying east of the Marienbruecke," Kempten police said on their website. "These persons may have been walking together or separately."

In this image taken from video, a suspect is taken away by two police officers near Neuschwanstein castle in Schwangau, southern Germany on Thursday. An American man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two U.S. tourists near the castle and then pushing them down a steep slope. Eric Abneri/AP hide caption

In this image taken from video, a suspect is taken away by two police officers near Neuschwanstein castle in Schwangau, southern Germany on Thursday. An American man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two U.S. tourists near the castle and then pushing them down a steep slope.

The Marienbruecke, or Mary's Bridge, is a popular vantage point for photos of Neuschwanstein, the most famous of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century.

According to the initial police investigation, the suspect met the two female tourists, Americans aged 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint.

"The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect," police spokesman Holger Stabik said. "The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope."

The assailant then appears to have attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well, prosecutors said. She fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), ending up close to her friend.

Both women were recovered by mountain rescuers. The 21-year-old was flown to a hospital with serious injuries and later died. The 22-year-old remains hospitalized, but is "responsive," police said.

Authorities haven't named either of the victims or given any further details.

People watch the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Frank Rumpenhorst/AP hide caption

People watch the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023.

The suspect, who likewise was not identified, remains in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, prosecutors said, adding it wasn't clear how long he had been in the country.

The U.S. Embassy in Berlin said it was aware of the incident and the consulate in Munich was in contact with authorities.

"Due to privacy considerations, we are unable to comment further at this time," the embassy said in a statement.

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American Woman Dies at Neuschwanstein Castle After Push Down Cliff

The woman, 21, was visiting the popular German site with a friend when they met a man who persuaded them to take a little-used trail and then assaulted them both, the police said.

By Christopher F. Schuetze

Reporting from Berlin

One American woman was killed and another was injured on Wednesday when a man pushed them down a cliff near Neuschwanstein Castle, the popular German tourist site at the foot of the Alps, the local police said.

The police in Bavaria — the state containing the castle, which is said to have been the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland in California — said they had arrested a 30-year-old American suspect after a manhunt that included a helicopter and search dogs. They appealed for any witnesses who may have seen or filmed the deadly episode, in which the man was also said to have tried to sexually assault one of the women.

“It’s a very rare and noteworthy thing to happen there,” said Holger Stabik, a police spokesman. “We very rarely have any crime there at all.”

The police did not release the victims’ or the suspect’s names or home states.

The two women, friends age 21 and 22, were visiting the site as tourists, the police said in a statement . On Wednesday, the women were near the castle when they met an American man, who persuaded them to join him on a little-used unofficial hiking trail that led into a forest and toward the picturesque cliffs surrounding the castle, the police said.

Once out of view of the busy official path, they said, he attacked the 21-year-old. When the 22-year-old tried to intervene, the man pushed her down the steep cliff, according to the police, before trying to sexually assault the 21-year-old and then pushing her down the cliff as well.

Both women plunged about 150 feet and, shortly afterward, were rescued by the local mountain patrol and flown by emergency airlift to a hospital, according to the police. But the 21-year-old woman died from her injuries that night.

The 22-year-old was in stable condition and was able to speak with investigators, according to the police.

Neuschwanstein Castle, near the Austrian border about 50 miles southwest of Munich, is one of Germany’s most popular tourist destinations. The castle, built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the second half of the 19th century, attracts about 1.4 million visitors each year.

Eric Abneri, 21, a New York native, said in an interview that he had been visiting the castle with a couple of friends during a tour of Europe on Wednesday. When he saw a helicopter trying to rescue the two women, he and his friends believed there had been an ordinary hiking accident. But he soon came across the police search and watched as officers led a man away, a scene that he filmed and then posted on Twitter.

Mr. Abneri said that the man had not resisted when being taken away by the police, and that the man had the look of a “generic tourist.”

“The only thing that stuck out to me is that he had a lot of red marks on his face and neck,” Mr. Abneri said in the interview, adding, “He really looked like the victims clawed into him.”

An earlier version of this article misidentified the building that Disney is said to have modeled on Neuschwanstein Castle. It is Sleeping Beauty’s castle, not Snow White’s.

How we handle corrections

Christopher F. Schuetze covers German news, society and occasionally arts from the Berlin bureau. Before moving to Germany, he lived in the Netherlands, where he covered everything from tulips to sea-level rise. More about Christopher F. Schuetze

Watch CBS News

Police appeal for photos and video after American arrested in fatal attack near German castle

By Haley Ott

Updated on: June 16, 2023 / 9:22 AM EDT / CBS News

German police were appealing Friday for photos and video in relation to an attack near a castle in Germany that left a 21-year-old American dead and her 22-year-old friend injured when they were allegedly assaulted by another American tourist. Police in the southeast German state of Bavaria confirmed to CBS News that a U.S. national was arrested in connection with the incident, and Stefan Rinke, the Mayor of Schwangau, in Bavaria, told local media that all three people involved were American.

The women were hiking near Neuschwanstein Castle, which served as the inspiration for the castle in Disney's movie "Cinderella," when they met a 30-year-old man who told them to follow him down a trail leading to a secret viewpoint.

When the two women followed him, the suspect attacked the 21-year-old victim, police spokesperson Holger Stabik said. Her friend tried to intervene and the man choked her and pushed her down a steep slope. He then attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old, Stabik said, before pushing her down the slope as well.

Both women fell approximately 165 feet.

Rescue workers found the two women and the 21-year-old was flown by helicopter to a hospital, where she died of her injuries. Stabik told CBS News on Friday that the 22-year-old woman suffered minor injuries and was expected to be released from the hospital later in the day.

"The perpetrator at first moved away from the scene of the crime after the assault," Stabik told journalists on Thursday. "Whether this was a classic escape or not is not entirely known. In any case, he was then arrested a short time later by police officers on the basis of a witness tip in the immediate vicinity of the crime."

Eric Abneri was visiting Neuschwanstein Castle from New York and captured video of the suspect being led away by police on his phone.

"His face was covered in deep red scratch marks and his neck as well," Abneri told CBS News on Thursday. "There was clearly a struggle there, and he just had a frown on his face. He didn't say anything. He had a sort of disturbed look."

A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Berlin told CBS News on Thursday that it was "aware of an incident involving multiple individuals" but declined to provide further information citing "privacy considerations."   

The official said the embassy was communicating with German authorities on the matter.

CBS News' Anna Noryskiewicz in Berlin and Emmet Lyons in London contributed to this report.

Haley Ott is the CBS News Digital international reporter, based in the CBS News London bureau.

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Tourist dies after attack near Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle

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Tourist dead after attack near Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle

One of two female tourists attacked by an American man near the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle in southern Germany has died, German police said on Thursday.

Key points:

• According to police the two women encountered a 30-year-old American tourist on a trail near the castle
• The man attacked the 21-year old and pushed the 22-year-old down a deep slope when she intervened
• Criminal police have taken over the investigation 

A 21-year-old woman, who had to be taken to a hospital by helicopter, died overnight from serious injuries she sustained, while her 22-year-old companion was still in hospital, local police said in a statement.

According to police the women encountered a 30-year-old American tourist on a trail near the Marienbrücke bridge, which is popular for its view of the castle, who brought them to a hidden trail leading to a viewpoint.

The man then attacked the 21-year-old, said police, and when the 22-year-old intervened, the man choked her and pushed her down a steep slope.

"According to the current state of knowledge, an attempted sexual offence to the detriment of the 21-year-old must be assumed," police said in a statement.

The 21-year-old was also pushed down the slope, where she came to rest after falling nearly 50 metres, they added.

The suspect was arrested shortly afterwards, following a large police operation on Wednesday afternoon.

Criminal police have taken over the investigation into attempted murder, as well as a sexual offence, with the current focus on reconstructing exactly how the incident took place, police said.

The incident took place at the Marienbrücke, which is a popular meeting point for tourists with a view over Neuschwanstein Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle, about 105 kilometres south-west of Munich, is one of the most popular destinations in Europe.

According the castle's website, about 1.4 million people visit the castle annually, and in the summer months the castle counts more than 6,000 visitors on average daily.

Reuters/ABC

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Tourist dies after attack near Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle -police

BERLIN (Reuters) -One of two female tourists attacked by an American man near the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle in southern Germany has died, German police said on Thursday.

A 21-year-old woman, who had to be taken to a hospital by helicopter, died overnight from serious injuries she sustained, while her 22-year-old companion was still in hospital, local police said in a statement.

A suspect has been arrested, police said.

According to police the women encountered a 30-year-old American tourist on a trail near the Marienbruecke bridge, which is popular for its view of the castle, who brought them to a hidden trail leading to a viewpoint.

The man then attacked the 21-year-old, said police, and when the 22-year-old intervened, the man choked her and pushed her down a steep slope.

"According to the current state of knowledge, an attempted sexual offence to the detriment of the 21-year-old must be assumed," said police in a statement in English.

The 21-year-old was also pushed down the slope, where she came to rest after falling nearly 50 metres, they added.

The suspect was arrested shortly afterwards, following a large police operation on Wednesday afternoon, they added.

Criminal police have taken over the investigation into attempted murder and murder, as well as a sexual offence, with the current focus on reconstructing exactly how the incident took place, police said.

Neuschwanstein Castle, about 105 km (65 miles) south-west of Munich, is one of the most popular destinations in Europe.

According the castle's website, about 1.4 million people visit the castle annually, and in the summer months the castle counts more than 6,000 visitors on average daily.

State prosecutors did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

(Writing by Miranda Murray; Editing by Madeline Chambers, Conor Humphries and Alex Richardson)

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Breaking news, us tourist attempting sexual offense fatally pushes hiker off steep slope near german castle: officials.

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A 30-year-old American man has been arrested in Germany after police said he assaulted two young female tourists and pushed them into a deep ravine near the fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle, killing one of them.

The violent attack took place Wednesday afternoon near the Marienbruecke bridge spanning a gorge, which offers a world-famous view of the castle.

Police said in a statement that the suspect, who has not been identified, met the two fellow tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to an overlook.

The man then attacked the younger of the two women, police said.

When her friend tried to intervene, the American allegedly choked her and pushed her down a steep slope.

The suspect then allegedly tried to sexually assault the 21-year-old woman, before shoving her into the ravine as well.

She plummeted 164 feet and landed near her friend.

Mountain rescuers were able to reach both women at the bottom of the gorge.

The 22-year-old victim was “responsive” and taken to a hospital, police said.

A helicopter airlifted the 21-year-old woman to a different hospital with serious injuries, and she died there overnight.

The suspect fled the scene but was quickly apprehended nearby .

Bystander video posted on Twitter showed cops leading away a handcuffed man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

Witness Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who shot the video, said the man appeared to have scratches across his face.

“He did not say a single word. He didn’t open his mouth; he didn’t mumble,” Abneri told The Associated Press. “He just walked with the police and that was it.”

Abneri said he and friends reached the scenic overlook as a helicopter arrived and they witnessed rescuers lower themselves down to the victims.

“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff,” he said.

Abneri described it as “a very, very difficult rescue because of those cliffs and because the helicopter came mere feet above the tree line at the top of the hill.”

“They did an unbelievable job,” he said.

Police confirmed that the man they arrested was an American national and described him as a tourist.

Prosecutors said the victims were fellow US citizens.

The 22-year-old who survived the fall remained hospitalized Thursday.

Authorities didn’t identify anyone involved in the fatal incident or give any further details.

Police said a judge on Thursday ordered the suspect jailed pending a potential indictment — a process that can take months.

The 30-year-old is facing charges of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense.

Police said they and prosecutors were focusing on trying to reconstruct exactly what happened and called for any witnesses to come forward.

Neuschwanstein Castle, located in Bavaria about 65 miles southwest of Munich, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

According the castle’s website, about 1.4 million people visit the picturesque site built in the 19th century every year.

With Post wires

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American woman dead after man ‘throws two tourists off bridge’ at German fairytale castle

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A tourist has died and another is fighting for her life after a man allegedly sexually assaulted them and threw them off a bridge into a deep ravine on Wednesday at a famous “fairytale” German castle.

The tourists, aged 21 and 22, fell 165ft down a ravine near the castle of Neuschwanstein, near the Austrian border.

The 21-year-old died overnight at a nearby hospital following the alleged attacks, while the 22-year-old remains in critical condition.

Bavarian police said the attacker was a 30-year-old US national, DW reports .

The women involved are also Americans, according to the Associated Press , citing German prosecutors.

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Police said the man fled but was arrested after the incident on Wednesday.

“The crime happened on Wednesday around 2.40pm,” Chief Public Prosecutor Thomas Hörmann told German tabloid Bild . “The two tourists met the man on a hiking tour east of the Marienbrücke.”

Marienbrücke, a pedestrian bridge with sweeping views of the castle, sits above a high river gorge.

“The man then steered the two under a pretext to a trail that was difficult to see, which leads to a viewpoint,” Bavarian police said in a statement .

Once out of sight, the 30-year-old assailant reportedly tried to attack the women, going after the younger woman first, prompting the 22-year-old to try and defend her, police said.

“The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect,” police spokesman Holger Stabik told the AP . “The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope. ”

After that, the man made an "attempted sexual offence" on the 21-year-old and pushed her over the ledge as well, DW reports .

Specially trained members of the Alpine Task Force were involved in the attempted rescue of both women.

Officials haven’t released the names of those involved in the incident.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for the US Embassy did not confirm or deny whether those involved in the attack are Americans.

“The U.S. Consulate in Munich is monitoring the situation closely and is in contact with authorities. Due to privacy considerations, we are unable to comment further at this time,” officials told The Daily Beast .

The suspect was caught after a massive police operation involving 25 emergency vehicles on Wednesday afternoon and taken to a police station in nearby Fuessen

Bystander video posted online showed police leading away a handcuffed, bearded man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

Witness Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who shot the video, said the man appeared to have scratches across his face.

“He did not say a single word. He didn’t open his mouth; he didn’t mumble,” Mr Abneri told The Associated Press. “He just walked with the police and that was it.”

Mr Abneri said he and friends arrived at the scenic overlook as a helicopter arrived and they saw rescuers lower themselves down to the victims.

“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff,” he said. He described it as “a very, very difficult rescue because of those cliffs and because the helicopter came mere feet above the tree line at the top of the hill.”

“They did an unbelievable job,” he said.

The American suspect is in a German correctional facility, as officials investigate the attack as a potential sexual offence, murder, and attempted murder.

“The allegation is not yet established,” prosecutor Thomas Hörmann told DW .

Kempten criminal police are leading the investigation , and are asking those with knowledge of the incident to get in contact with them.

Neuschwanstein castle was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria , with construction beginning in 1869.

The towering estate is one of Germany ‘s most popular tourist attractions and is said to have been the inspiration for various Disney castles

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An American man was arrested in a US tourist's death after pushing her into a ravine near Neuschwanstein castle, police say

• An American man was arrested in a fellow US tourist's death near Neuschwanstein castle on Wednesday.
• Police say the man pushed two women, 21 and 22, down a steep slope after physically assaulting them.
• Neither the women or the man, who was taken into custody shortly afterward, have been identified.

BERLIN (AP) — An American man has been arrested in the death of a U.S. tourist and an assault on another near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany after he allegedly pushed the two women down a steep slope, authorities said Thursday.

The incident near the popular tourist attraction happened on Wednesday afternoon near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a famous view of Neuschwanstein.

The 30-year-old man met the two female tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint, police said in a statement.

He then "physically attacked" the younger woman, police said. When her companion tried to intervene, he choked her and pushed her down a steep slope.

The assailant then appears to have attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well. She fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), ending up close to her friend.

A mountain rescue team reached both women. The 22-year-old was "responsive" and taken to a hospital, police said; a helicopter carried the 21-year-old to a different hospital with serious injuries, and she died there overnight.

The suspect left the scene but was arrested quickly nearby. Bystander video posted online showed police leading away a handcuffed man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

Related stories

Witness Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who shot the video, said the man appeared to have scratches across his face.

"He did not say a single word. He didn't open his mouth; he didn't mumble," Abneri told The Associated Press. "He just walked with the police and that was it."

Abneri said he and friends arrived at the scenic overlook as a helicopter arrived and they saw rescuers lower themselves down to the victims.

"I'm honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff," he said.

Abneri described it as "a very, very difficult rescue because of those cliffs and because the helicopter came mere feet above the tree line at the top of the hill."

"They did an unbelievable job," he said.

Police said the man they arrested was American and described him as also a tourist; prosecutors said the women were fellow U.S. citizens. The 22-year-old remained hospitalized Thursday, according to prosecutors.

Authorities didn't identify either the suspect or the victims or give any further details.

Police said a judge in nearby Kempten on Thursday ordered the suspect held pending a potential indictment — a process that can take months — and he was taken to jail. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense.

Police said they and prosecutors were focusing on trying to reconstruct exactly what happened and called for any witnesses to come forward.

Neuschwanstein, located in southern Bavaria close to Austria's border, is one of Germany's most popular tourist attractions.

It is the most famous of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century. Construction started in 1869 but was never completed. Ludwig died in 1886.

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American arrested for pushing 2 US tourists into ravine at German castle, leaving one woman dead

The Associated Press

June 16, 2023, 12:40 AM

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BERLIN (AP) — An American man has been arrested over the death of one U.S. tourist and an assault on another near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany after he allegedly pushed the two women down a steep slope, authorities said Thursday.

The incident near the popular tourist attraction happened on Wednesday afternoon near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a famous view of Neuschwanstein.

The 30-year-old man met the two female tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint, police said in a statement.

“The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect,” said police spokesman Holger Stabik. “The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope. ”

The assailant then appears to have attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well. She fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), ending up close to her friend.

A mountain rescue team reached both women. The 22-year-old was “responsive” and taken to a hospital, police said; a helicopter carried the 21-year-old with serious injuries to a different hospital, and she died there overnight.

The suspect left the scene but was quickly arrested nearby. Bystander video posted online showed police leading away a handcuffed man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who took the video, said the man appeared to have scratches across his face.

“He did not say a single word. He didn’t open his mouth; he didn’t mumble,” Abneri told The Associated Press. “He just walked with the police and that was it.”

Abneri said he and friends reached the scenic overlook as a helicopter arrived and they saw rescuers lower themselves down to the victims.

“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff,” he said.

Abneri described it as “a very, very difficult rescue because of those cliffs and because the helicopter came mere feet above the tree line at the top of the hill.”

“They did an unbelievable job,” he said.

Police said the man they arrested was American and described him as also a tourist; prosecutors said the women were fellow U.S. citizens. The 22-year-old remained hospitalized Thursday, according to prosecutors.

Authorities didn’t identify either the suspect or the victims or give any further details.

Police said a judge in nearby Kempten on Thursday ordered the suspect held pending a potential indictment — a process that can take months — and he was taken to jail. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense.

Police said they and prosecutors were focusing on trying to reconstruct exactly what happened and called for any witnesses to come forward.

Neuschwanstein, located in southern Bavaria close to Austria’s border, is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions.

It is the most famous of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century. Construction started in 1869 but was never completed. Ludwig died in 1886.

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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American man admits to attacking 2 US tourists and killing one of them near a famous German castle

An American man on Monday admitted to charges of murder and rape after he allegedly pushed two U.S. women down a ravine, fatally injuring one of them near Germany’s Neuschwanstein castle last year (Feb 19).

A 31-year-old American man accused of murder is led into the courtroom at the regional court in Kempten, Southern Germany, Monday Feb. 19, 2024. An American man on Monday admitted to charges of murder and rape after he allegedly pushed two U.S. women down a ravine, fatally injuring one of them near Germany’s Neuschwanstein castle last year. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa via AP)

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A 31-year-old American man accused of murder stands in the dock behind his lawyers in a courtroom at the district court in Kempten, Southern Germany, Monday Feb. 19, 2024. An American man on Monday admitted to charges of murder and rape after he allegedly pushed two U.S. women down a ravine, fatally injuring one of them near Germany’s Neuschwanstein castle last year. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa via AP)

BERLIN (AP) — An American man on Monday admitted to charges of murder and rape after he allegedly pushed two U.S. women down a ravine, fatally injuring one of them near Germany’s Neuschwanstein castle last year.

The 31-year-old defendant admitted to the charges during the start of his trial, the German news agency dpa reported. Defendants in the German legal system do not formally enter pleas to charges.

“The defendant has committed an unfathomable crime,” defense lawyer Philip Mueller said in a statement. The defendant, whose name hasn’t been released in line with German privacy rules, confirmed that his lawyer’s statement was correct but did not answer any questions.

The defendant is charged with murder, rape with fatal consequences, attempted murder and possession of child pornography. Murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison in Germany.

The attack happened on June 14 last year near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a view of Neuschwanstein, one of Germany’s most famous tourist attractions.

Prosecutors say the defendant met by chance the two female tourists, aged 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them off the trail. They said in a statement that he apparently first forced the younger woman to the ground and tried to undress her.

When the elder woman tried to help her, a scuffle ensued and the suspect allegedly pushed her down a steep slope. She fell about 50 meters (165 feet) and sustained a head injury, bruises and grazes but survived .

The suspect then allegedly strangled the younger woman until she was unconscious and raped her, prosecutors said, before pushing her down the slope as well. She died.

Prosecutors said they secured a laptop and cellphones from the suspect containing child sexual abuse material.

Authorities say the women didn’t know the man before they met near Neuschwanstein. The suspect was arrested shortly after the attack.

A verdict is expected to be announced in mid-March at the earliest.

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Tourist dead after attack near Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle: Report

BERLIN – One of two women attacked by a man near the tourist attraction of Neuschwanstein Castle in southern Germany has died, reported German broadcaster ZDF on Thursday, citing a spokesman for state prosecutors in Kempten.

The 21-year-old woman died in a hospital overnight, while her 22-year-old companion was still in hospital with injuries, ZDF reported.

The suspect has been arrested, said the spokesman, according to ZDF.

State prosecutors did not immediately make a comment.

According to German daily Bild, the women ran into the man on a scenic bridge with a view of the world-famous castle, where a scuffle ensued after he sexually harassed them.

He then threw both women over the railing of the bridge into a ravine below, Bild reported. REUTERS

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