Devendra Kumar
German police 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. According to police, the suspect met the two American tourists, 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, who then choked her and was subsequently pushed down a slope. The 21-year-old fell almost 50 meters, ending up close to her friend, who had also been pushed down the slope.
The assailant then attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope again. Both women were recovered by mountain rescuers, with the 21-year-old being flown to a hospital with serious injuries and later dying. The 22-year-old remains in hospital, but is “responsive”. Authorities have not identified either of the victims or given any further details. The suspect, who is also American, remains in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, with prosecutors saying it is not clear how long he had been in the country.
Police are seeking photographs that may show the suspect and the two victims, who may have been walking together or separately, near a popular vantage point for photos of the iconic Neuschwanstein castle. The Mary’s Bridge, also known as the Marienbruecke, is a popular spot for tourists to take photos of the castle, and police believe that many people may have taken pictures or videos of the area at the time of the incident. So far, only about a dozen submissions have been received on a specially created website, but police are expecting many more to come forward.
The United States Embassy in Berlin has acknowledged the incident and the consulate in Munich is in contact with authorities, but due to privacy considerations, the embassy is unable to comment further at this time. The incident is a shocking reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant while traveling, particularly in popular tourist areas. It is also a reminder of the need for cooperation between authorities and the public in the pursuit of justice.