tourist dead neuschwanstein

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.

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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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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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American tourist killed, another injured in attack near Germany's Neuschwanstein castle, police say

Neuschwanstein was the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty."

BERLIN and LONDON -- An American tourist was killed and another was injured when they were attacked by an American man they met near the famous Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, authorities said Thursday.

The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon in the German state of Bavaria near the Marienbruecke, a pedestrian bridge popular for its stunning view of Neuschwanstein. Nestled on the edge of the Bavarian Alps, the 19th-century palace was the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty." Two women, ages 21 and 22, met a 30-year-old man on a hiking trail east of the bridge who then lured them onto a path that led to a viewpoint, according to a statement from the Bavarian State Police.

MORE: 2 Americans found dead in hotel room in Baja California Sur, Mexico: Police

The man then "physically attacked" the younger woman, police said. When the other woman tried to intervene, the man choked her and pushed her down a steep slope. He then apparently attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before also pushing her down the slope. Both women fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), according to police.

A mountain rescue service from the nearby town of Fuessen rescued both women. The 22-year-old was injured but responsive and taken to a hospital. The 21-year-old suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital, where she died overnight, police said.

The suspect had left the scene but was arrested close by soon after, according to police.

MORE: 5 dead, plus unborn child, in shooting at Jehovah's Witness hall in Germany: Police

Although the names of the suspect and the victims have not yet been released, a Bavarian State Police spokesperson confirmed to ABC News that all three were American tourists.

The suspect appeared before a judge in the nearby town of Kempten on Thursday and was ordered to be held in jail pending a potential indictment. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and sexual offense, according to police.

Police have called for any witnesses to come forward as they continue to investigate the alleged attack.

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American Man Sentenced to Life After Killing Woman at German Castle

The U.S. citizen attacked two women, also Americans, near Germany’s iconic Neuschwanstein Castle, and attempted to push both of them to their deaths, a court found. One was killed, the other survived.

By Erika Solomon

A German court on Monday convicted an American man of raping and murdering a woman and attempting to murder her companion near the Neuschwanstein Castle , one of the country’s most famous tourist destinations.

A nearby bridge known for its panoramic views of the fairy-tale castle became a crime scene in June when the 31-year-old man attacked two young American women, who had been on a trip to Europe after their college graduation.

In imposing a life sentence, the court established the “particular gravity of the guilt,” a spokesman for the court said, adding that the man was charged with murder and rape resulting in the death in relation to the first victim, and attempted murder and grievous bodily harm in relation to the second. This means that the defendant will not be eligible for parole after the customary 15 years, though possibly at a later date.

(In Germany, a life sentence is not for a specific time period. A convicted person is usually allowed to apply for parole after 15 years and then, if rejected, to reapply every two years.)

Following privacy laws, German authorities did not name the defendant or the women, but family and friends identified the victims as 21-year-old Eva Liu, who died, and Kelsey Chang, 22. The two friends had recently graduated from the University of Illinois.

According to the police, the two friends did not know the attacker, but had met him that day by the Pöllat Bridge, which looks out onto Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany’s southern state of Bavaria, near the Austrian border. The man persuaded the women to join him on a little-used trail leading into the forest, toward picturesque cliffs surrounding the castle.

He then attacked Ms. Liu and started to choke her. Ms. Chang attempted to fend off the attacker, but was quickly overcome by the man and pushed into the Pöllat Gorge below, falling some 165 feet, according to the German news agency, DPA, which was present at the trial.

The man then strangled Ms. Liu with a belt and raped her. He filmed and photographed the assault, which the judge overseeing the trial said was probably intended as a “trophy” but became important incriminating evidence in the case.

The assailant then pushed the woman down the gorge after her friend. “He disposed of her like a bag of garbage,” DPA quoted the judge as saying in court.

A helicopter rescue mission later retrieved both women and took them to the hospital, but only Ms. Chang survived.

The judge also told the court that the women may have specifically been targeted because of their Asian heritage, according to DPA. He said the defendant apparently had a preference for Asian women, referring to pornographic films police found in his possession.

A spokesman for the court said that the defendant would have one week to appeal the decision.

Only if the judgment is made final, he said, would it be decided whether the defendant should be extradited to the United States to serve his sentence or remain in Germany.

Man arrested in killing of U.S. tourist on cliff near German castle

The 30-year-old is in custody after allegedly pushing two female tourists off a cliff near neuschwanstein castle.

German police arrested a 30-year-old U.S. man in the killing and attempted sexual assault of an American tourist last week near Neuschwanstein Castle , a popular tourist attraction in Bavaria.

Police said he pushed two women down a 150-foot drop close to the edge of a pedestrian bridge that overlooks the castle in southern Germany outside the village of Schwangau.

A 21-year-old woman died in the hospital after the Füssen mountain rescue service retrieved her with a helicopter, police said . Her 22-year-old friend, whom police said the suspect choked when she intervened in the attack, survived the fall. The man and both women are U.S. citizens, the Associated Press reported . Their identities were not released by officials.

This week, family members and a church leader identified the victims as recent graduates of the University of Illinois. Eva Liu, 21, died in the incident, according to the Rev. Mark Zhang of Living Water Evangelical Church in Naperville, Ill. The family attended the church and Liu’s parents told him that she had been killed, the AP reported . Kelsey Chang, 22, of Normal, Ill., survived the attack and was reportedly on a flight back to the United States on Tuesday. The suspect is from Michigan, according to the AP and ABC 7 Chicago .

According to police, the three tourists met on a hiking trail east of the Marienbrücke bridge in the German Alps, and the man lured the two women to a trail out of public view. Police suspect he attempted a sexual attack on the 21-year-old, and he choked and pushed the 22-year-old when she tried to intervene.

At Neuschwanstein, there was a rescue of multiple people from a helicopter and one was taken out in handcuffs, seemingly after they fell from a cliff and climbed over railings. pic.twitter.com/yVGqqSRlwX — Eric Abneri (@thefrownyface) June 14, 2023

The man was arrested near the scene shortly after authorities launched a search upon receiving a complaint around 2:40 p.m. June 14. The suspect appeared in Kempten District Court the following day and was taken to a correctional facility, police say.

Another visitor, Eric Abneri, who captured video of the arrest, told the Associated Press that the man appeared to have scratches on his face. Abneri and his friends also saw the rescue.

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

Bavarian king Ludwig II ordered the construction of the Neuschwanstein Castle in the 19th century. It is one of the most visited castles in Europe .

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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.

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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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US man held after fatal attack near Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany

Women aged 21 and 22 had met the suspect for the first time shortly beforehand

An American man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and sexual assault after allegedly attacking two women near one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions and throwing them down a 50-metre ravine.

One of the women, aged 21, died overnight from serious injuries. Her 22-year-old companion was still in hospital with serious injuries. Neither has been identified, but according to German media reports both women were also Americans.

The attack took place on Wednesday afternoon at the 19th-century Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, the state prosecutor Thomas Hörmann told reporters.

The two women had met the man on a trail close to Marienbrücke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a famous view of Neuschwanstein.

The three of them then went “over a trail path to a viewing point, where he then physically attacked the 21-year-old,” Hörmann said. Investigators were working on the assumption that the attack was sexually motivated, he added.

“The 22-year-old wanted to help, whereupon he strangled her and pushed her down the incline.” The 21-year-old also plunged into the ravine.

Witnesses reported seeing the women lying side by side 50 metres below. The women were recovered by a mountain rescue team from Füssen and were flown by helicopter to a nearby clinic.

The man fled the scene and a suspect was arrested shortly afterwards, following a large police operation. A witness video posted online showed a man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap being led away in handcuffs by police.

Criminal investigative police from Kempten have launched an investigation into murder, attempted murder and sexual assault, assisted by officers from a local alpine taskforce who have expert knowledge of the terrain.

The alleged attacker appeared before a judge in Kempten and is being held in custody.

A spokesperson for the castle said it was operating normally and the Marienbrücke, a popular place from which to view the picturesque castle, was also accessible.

Neuschwanstein was built on top of a rock ledge above the Pöllat Gorge in the Bavarian Alps on the orders of Bavaria’s King Ludwig II, who wanted a reproduction of a medieval castle. Building work began in 1868 but it was never completed. It now draws an estimated 1.4 million tourists a year.

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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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A famous castle, attempted sex assault and a deadly shove: What happened to the American women thrown off a German cliff?

Police are investigating the incident at the famous neuschwanstein castle as murder. josh marcus explains what we know so far, article bookmarked.

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A n idyllic tourist spot in Germany became the site of a shocking tragedy when two American women were thrown over the edge of a steep gorge - allegedly by an American man who sexually assaulted them.

German police are investigating an incident which took place Wednesday (15 June) near the famous Neuschwanstein castle.

A 30-year-old suspect allegedly attempted to assault the two women before forcing them over a ledge.

Both women, ages 21 and 22, were rescued, but the younger one died of her injuries soon after.

The victim and alleged assailant have yet to be named.

Here’s what we know so far:

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

What happened?

On Wednesday afternoon, two American women, aged 21 and 22, were forced off a steep ledge at the Marienbrücke, a pedestrain bridge with sweeping views of the castle, which sits above a high river gorge.

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

“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 .

Who are the victims?

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 .

How were they rescued?

Due to the harsh terrain around the gorge, specially trained members of the Alpine Task Force were involved in the attempted rescue of both women.

Witness Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who witnessed the incident, 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.

Mr 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.

The 21-year-old woman died of her injuries overnight.

Who is the alleged attacker?

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

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

How was suspect captured?

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.

Are police pressing charges?

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.

What is Neuschwanstein castle?

Neuschwanstein castle, nestled near the Austrian border, 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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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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Neuschwanstein: US tourist held after woman pushed to her death at German castle

An American tourist has been arrested over the death of a US tourist and an assault on another near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, after he allegedly pushed the two women down a steep cliff.

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 metres (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,” Mr Abneri told The Associated Press. “He just walked with the police and that was it.”

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Mr 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.

Mr 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 US citizens. The 22-year-old remained hospitalised 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 offence.

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.

Woman dies following attack at popular German tourist spot

American man arrested following incident near neuschwanstein castle.

A man attacked two women near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, killing one. Photograph: Matthias Schrader/AP/PA

An American man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two US tourists near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, an attack that left one of the women dead, authorities said.

The incident near the popular tourist attraction happened on Wednesday afternoon. It took place 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 women, aged 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them on to a trail that leads to a viewpoint, police said in a statement.

The man, himself described as a tourist, then “physically attacked” the younger woman, police said. When her companion tried to intervene, he choked her and pushed her down a steep slope, they added.

The man then appears to have allegedly attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well. She fell nearly 50 metres, ending up close to her friend.

The mountain rescue service rescued both women.

The 22-year-old was “responsive” and taken to hospital, police said. The 21-year-old was flown by helicopter to hospital with serious injuries and died there overnight.

The suspect left the scene but was arrested nearby shortly afterwards.

Under German law, suspects must be brought before a judge at a closed-doors hearing by the end of the calendar day after their arrest if investigators intend to keep them in custody.

Police said a judge in nearby Kempten on Thursday ordered him held pending a potential indictment and he was taken to jail. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offence.

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

Neuschwanstein, in southern Bavaria and close to the Austrian border, is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions. – AP

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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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Shot through the heart: jon bon jovi opens up about hulu docuseries ‘thank you, goodnight’, celine dion on living with stiff person syndrome & if she’ll return to tour again.

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She continued, “Five days a week I undergo athletic, physical and vocal therapy. I work on my toes, my knees, my calves, my fingers, my singing, my voice… I have to learn to live with it now and stop questioning myself. At the beginning I would ask myself: why me? How did this happen? What have I done? Is this my fault?”

Dion says she doesn’t have the answers as to why she got this illness and she only has two options, “Either I train like an athlete and work super hard, or I switch off and it’s over, I stay at home, listen to my songs, stand in front of my mirror and sing to myself. I’ve chosen to work with all my body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team. I want to be the best I can be. My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again!”

The “My Heart Will Go On” singer says that it’s her family, children, and fans that keep her strong and is grateful she has the means to have good doctors and treatments, adding, “I have this strength within me. I know that nothing is going to stop me.”

Since being diagnosed with SPS, Dion has been largely kept out of the public eye. In February of this year, she made a surprise appearance at the Grammys and presented an award to Taylor Swift .

When asked about getting back on stage and touring again, Dion said, “I can’t answer that… Because for four years I’ve been saying to myself that I’m not going back, that I’m ready, that I’m not ready… As things stand, I can’t stand here and say to you: ‘Yes, in four months’ [I will return]. I don’t know… My body will tell me.”

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

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.

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