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

The Associated Press

american who killed tourist in germany

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."

american who killed tourist in germany

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.

american who killed tourist in germany

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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Eva Lie died when a man tried to sexually assault her before shoving her and her friend Kelsey Chang off a cliff.

American man charged with murder after attack on US women in Germany

The recent college graduates were visiting Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria when man allegedly shoved them down a steep slope

Two US women who had just earned computer-related college degrees had gone to southern Germany to celebrate when a fellow American whom they met while hiking shoved them both down a steep slope last week, killing one and seriously wounding the other, according to officials.

Eva Liu, 21, had received her bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in May. Authorities say she was sexually assaulted and pushed to her death near Neuschwanstein Castle, a famous tourist destination in Bavaria. Her 22-year-old friend Kelsey Chang had also just graduated from the same school with a bachelor’s in computer engineering – reports say she was attacked, too, but survived.

Liu and Chang’s alma mater issued a statement to news media outlets which lamented that the pair of friends were not “able to celebrate such an important accomplishment without … such a tragic outcome”.

“Our University of Illinois family is mourning the senseless death of Ms Liu and the attack on Ms Chang,” the school’s statement read. “Our thoughts are with Ms Chang as she recovers and with both of their families as they grieve.”

Before they became ensnared in the latest travel abroad horror story to grip the US, Liu and Chang attended the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in the Chicago suburb of Aurora and befriended each other. They had decided to vacation together in Germany as a reward for completing their undergraduate college work, and they were hiking on their trip when their paths crossed that of a 30-year-old American man.

The man – who has not been publicly identified – lured the friends to a trail that leads to the Marienbrücke, or Mary’s Bridge. The Marienbrücke is a popular vantage point for pictures of Neuschwanstein, the most famous of the castles which King Ludwig II of Bavaria built in the 19th century.

On the trail leading there, the man assailed Liu, and Chang tried to help her friend stave the attack off, authorities said. The man then pushed Chang down a slope, tried to sexually assault Liu, and then shoved her down the slope as well, according to officials.

Liu fell about 165ft (50 meters) and died after rescuers flew her to a hospital. A tree reportedly broke Chang’s fall, and she was later reported to be responsive and recovering at the hospital where rescue crews took her.

Police jailed the alleged attacker on charges of murder and attempted murder. They later asked castle visitors to send any photos or videos they may have taken at the time of Liu and Chang’s attack.

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As of late last week, that appeal had generated about a dozen submissions on a website specially designed for that purpose.

In an interview with the Illinois television station WLS, a neighbor of Liu’s family described herself as heartbroken over the news out of Germany.

“I’m very upset … my daughter travels overseas and stuff too, and I just can’t even believe what people are capable of doing any more,” said Debbie Krull. “You really worry bad.”

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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.

american who killed tourist in germany

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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Bad behavior: Entitled tourists are running amok, defacing the Colosseum , getting rowdy in Bali and messing with wild animals in national parks. Some destinations are fighting back with public awareness campaigns — or just by telling out-of-control visitors to stay away .

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German police appeal for images taken of an attack in which Americans were pushed down a steep slope

FILE - People stay on the Marien-Bridge at Castle Neuschwanstein, a 19th century creation by Bavaria's fairy tale king Ludwig II and world renowned tourist attraction, is pictured in Hohenschwangau near Fuessen, southern Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. A U.S. hiker who was sexually assaulted and killed in Germany last week had just graduated from the University of Illinois with a computer science degree in May. A Michigan man attacked her and a 22-year-old friend while they were hiking near Neuschwanstein castle on June 14. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP, File)

FILE - People stay on the Marien-Bridge at Castle Neuschwanstein, a 19th century creation by Bavaria’s fairy tale king Ludwig II and world renowned tourist attraction, is pictured in Hohenschwangau near Fuessen, southern Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. A U.S. hiker who was sexually assaulted and killed in Germany last week had just graduated from the University of Illinois with a computer science degree in May. A Michigan man attacked her and a 22-year-old friend while they were hiking near Neuschwanstein castle on June 14. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP, File)

People watch the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Authorities say an American man has been arrested in Germany after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left one of the women dead. Police said Thursday that the 30-year-old man met the two women on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail. They said the man then “physically attacked” the younger woman. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)

In this image taken from video, a suspect is taken away by two police officers near Neuschwanstein castle in Schwangau, southern Germany, Thursday June 15, 2023. An American man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two U.S. tourists near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany and then pushing them down a steep slope, an attack that left one of the women dead, authorities said Thursday. (Eric Abneri via AP)

Tourists stand on the Marienbr’cke bridge, near the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Authorities say an American man has been arrested in Germany after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left one of the women dead. Police said Thursday that the 30-year-old man met the two women on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail. They said the man then “physically attacked” the younger woman. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)

FILE - Castle Neuschwanstein, a 19th century creation by Bavaria’s fairy tale king Ludwig II and world renowned tourist attraction, is pictured in Hohenschwangau near Fuessen, southern Germany, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Authorities say a man has attacked two women near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, killing one. Police say the women were attacked Wednesday afternoon near the popular tourist site and the man fled but was arrested. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

A view of the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Authorities say an American man has been arrested in Germany after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left one of the women dead. Police said Thursday that the 30-year-old man met the two women on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail. They said the man then “physically attacked” the younger woman. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)

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BERLIN (AP) — 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.”

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.

FILE - Reggie Daniels pays his respects a memorial at Robb Elementary School, June 9, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas, created to honor the victims killed in the school shooting. Nearly two years after the deadly school shooting in Uvalde that left 19 children and two teachers dead, the city council will discuss Thursday, March 7, 2024, the results of an independent investigation it requested into the response by local police officers. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

“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.

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.

american who killed tourist in germany

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American Man Arrested for Pushing 2 U.S. Tourists into Ravine at German Castle, Leaving 1 Dead

An American man is in custody after attacking two women near the historic Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany

american who killed tourist in germany

An American man is in custody for pushing two U.S. tourists off a bridge in Germany, leaving one dead and another seriously injured.

The incident occurred on June 14 at a scenic viewpoint near Neuschwanstein Castle, which served as the inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty, reported Associated Press .

The suspect, a 30-year-old man, came across two female tourists aged 21 and 22, while hiking along a trail, according to a police statement seen by AP.

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

Frank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance

The attacker then tried to sexually assault the younger woman before also pushing her down the slope, reported CNN . Tragically, she later died from the injuries she sustained in the estimated 165-foot fall, the Bavaria police said in a statement issued Thursday, added the outlet.

A spokesperson from the Bavarian State Police told ABC News that all three individuals involved in the incident were U.S. tourists. German law prevents the authorities from releasing the details of the suspect and the victims at this time.

After the incident, the suspect was arrested by law enforcement. A bystander's video circulated online, shows police leading away a handcuffed man dressed in a T-shirt, jeans and baseball cap.

Eric Abneri, a University of Pittsburgh graduate who captured the footage told AP the man had visible scratches on his face.

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

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

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for  PEOPLE' s free True Crime newsletter  for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Abneri added that the authorities also had to conduct "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."

The suspect made an appearance before a judge in the nearby town of Kempten on Thursday and is currently under investigation for murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense, reported the BBC . The judge also ordered the suspect to remain in custody while awaiting a potential indictment, added the outlet.

Watch CBS News

American woman injured in fatal attack on fellow American tourist near German castle released from hospital

By Haley Ott, Brian Dakss

June 20, 2023 / 4:33 AM EDT / CBS News

Police in Germany said Monday that a 22-year-old American injured in an attack Thursday near a castle in Germany that led to the death of her 21-year-old American friend has been released from a hospital.

Police spokesperson Holger Stabik said the was able to leave the hospital on Friday, according to The Associated Press.

The woman was hurt when she and her friend were assaulted, allegedly 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.

Their names haven't been released due to German privacy laws.

The women were hiking near Neuschwanstein Castle, which inspired the castle in Disney's movie "Cinderella" and attracts more than a million tourists a year, when they met a 30-year-old man who told them to follow him down a trail leading to a secret viewpoint.

Tourist dies after attack at Neuschwanstein Castle

When the two women followed him, the suspect attacked the 21-year-old victim, 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.

"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."

Stabik said police have received about two dozen photos and videos on a specially created website, adding that investigators are asking anyone who has more video or images of the suspect and victims to provide them to police.

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

"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.

A spokesperson for prosecutors told the AP it might take as long as four months for them to decide whether to indict the suspect.

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

haley-ott-cbs-news.jpg

Haley Ott is the CBS News Digital international reporter, based in the CBS News London bureau. Haley joined CBS News in 2018, prior to which she worked for outlets including Al Jazeera, Monocle, and Vice News.

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American woman who was pushed into a ravine near Neuschwanstein castle is out of the hospital

Image:

BERLIN — Police in southern Germany said Monday that an American tourist who was pushed into a ravine during  an attack near Neuschwanstein castle  in which her 21-year-old friend was killed has been released from the hospital.

The 22-year-old woman had tried to stop a 30-year-old Michigan man from allegedly assaulting her friend after luring them onto a trail leading to a viewpoint overlooking the famous castle, which draws more than a million tourists every year.

The 22-year-old fell nearly 165 feet down a steep slope but was able to leave the hospital Friday, police spokesperson Holger Stabik said.

Both women were recovered by mountain rescuers shortly after the attack Wednesday, but the younger victim later died of her injuries in the hospital.

The suspect, whose name like those of the victims wasn’t released due to German privacy rules, was arrested shortly after the incident. He is being held on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and attempted sexual assault.

Stabik said police have received about two dozen photos and videos on  a specially created website  and are appealing for anyone with additional images of the suspect and victims to come forward.

Prosecutors said the women did not know the man until the incident.

A spokesperson for the prosecutors’ office in Kempten, Thomas Hörmann, said the investigation into the incident is continuing but it may be three or four months before authorities decide on an indictment.

The Associated Press

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German castle attack: American victims in deadly Neuschwanstein tourist attack are named

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The two American women who were attacked while they hiked a trail near a famous castle in Germany had recently graduated college.

Eva Liu, 21, and Kelsey Chang, 22, had travelled to Germany following their May graduation from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DailyMail.com first reported.

A university spokesperson confirmed in a statement to The Independent that Ms Chang and Ms Liu were the victims shoved down into a ravine near the historic Neuschwanstein Castle in the German state Bavaria on Wednesday. Ms Liu died as a result of injuries she sustained during the 164ft fall, while Ms Chang remains in hospital.

“Both had just graduated in May and should have been able to celebrate such an important accomplishment without the fear of such a tragic outcome,” the office of the university chancellor said. “Our thoughts are with Ms. Chang as she recovers and with both of their families as they grieve.”

A 30-year-old American man has been arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and sexual offences.

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What we know about the attack by Neuschwanstein castle

An 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 victims and alleged assailant have yet to be named.

Here’s what we know so far:

What we know about two women being thrown off cliff near German castle

Police investigating incident as murder, writes Josh Marcus

Witness describes scratches on suspect’s face

Video posted online showed police arresting the 30-year-old suspect after he fled from the scene of the attack. He is seen wearing a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

The video was recorded by Eric Aberneri, who told the Associated Press that the man appeared to have scratches on his face.

“He did not say a single word. He didn’t open his mouth; he didn’t mumble,” Mr Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, told the outlet. “He just walked with the police and that was it.”

Mr Abneri also described how he and his friends reached the scenic overlook as a helicopter flew in to rescue 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 said the rescue was “very, very difficult” as the helicopter had to hover just feet over the treeline as crews were lowered down to the victims.

“They did an unbelievable job,” he said of the rescuers.

What do we know about the suspect?

Little is known about the suspect, other than that he is a 30-year-old American man.

He did not know the victims prior to the attack, authorities said.

The man reportedly appeared in court on Thursday and was ordered to be held in jail pending an indictment - which could take months, the Associated Press reported.

He is being investigated on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense.

Where is Neuschwanstein castle?

Neuschwanstein castle sits in the foothills of the Alps on Germany’s southern edge.

It was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria , with construction beginning in 1869 but never actually coming to completion.

The king never ended up living at the castle before his death in 1886, after which it was opening to the public.

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

More than 1.3 million people visit the site each year, with up to 6,000 visitors each day in during the peak summer season.

Neuschwanstein castle sits in the foothills of the Alps on Germany’s southern edge

A woman admires Neuschwanstein castle from a bridge overlook

ICYMI: Two US women attacked by American while touring castle in Germany

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 .

American suspect to be tried in Germany, report says

German prosecutors are not considering extradition for the man accused of murdering an American tourist, according to the German outlet Rheinische Post .

However, a later transfer for the execution of the sentence is possible, a spokesperson for the local public prosecutor’s office said.

German police seeks help in investigation

Authorities in Kempten have asked witnesses who may have video or pictures of the moments leading up to the attack and the incident itself to forward them to the department. According to the German outlet Rheinische Post , police believe there is a lot of material that needs to be reviewed by detectives.

“We hope that this will further clarify the situation before and after the crime,” a police spokesman said.

Suspect. in custody

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.

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 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.

Who is the alleged attacker?

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

The man appeared before a judge at the Kempten District Court, but did not comment on a motive behind the attack.

It is unclear how long he had been in Germany, but he has been described by local authorities as a tourist.

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

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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 suspect under arrest for the death of an American tourist near Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany.

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.

The man also allegedly choked and pushed a 22-year-old woman down a steep slope after she attempted to stop the attack.

“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.”

The attack took place on a popular tourist destination near the Neuschwanstein castle.

“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.

According to police, the attack is believed to be an "attempted sexual offense."

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 suspect under arrest for the death of an American tourist near Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany.

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American Woman Who Was Pushed and Fell 165 Feet Near German Castle Is Released From Hospital

Police in southern Germany say an American tourist who was pushed into a ravine during an attack near Neuschwanstein castle in which her 21-year-old friend was killed has been released from the hospital

Frank Rumpenhorst

Frank Rumpenhorst

Tourists stand on the Marienbr'cke bridge, near the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Authorities say an American man has been arrested in Germany after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left one of the women dead. Police said Thursday that the 30-year-old man met the two women on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail. They said the man then “physically attacked” the younger woman. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)

BERLIN (AP) — Police in southern Germany said Monday that an American tourist who was pushed into a ravine during an attack near Neuschwanstein castle in which her 21-year-old friend was killed has been released from the hospital.

The 22-year-old woman had tried to stop a 30-year-old Michigan man from allegedly assaulting her friend after luring them onto a trail leading to a viewpoint overlooking the famous castle, which draws more than a million tourists every year.

The older woman fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet) down a steep slope but was able to leave the hospital Friday, police spokesperson Holger Stabik said.

Both women were recovered by mountain rescuers shortly after the attack Wednesday, but the younger victim later died of her injuries in the hospital.

The suspect, whose name like those of the victims wasn't released due to German privacy rules, was arrested shortly after the incident. He is being held on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and attempted sexual assault.

Stabik said police have received about two dozen photos and videos on a specially created website and are appealing for anyone with additional images of the suspect and victims to come forward.

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A Maka Indigenous woman puts on make-up before protesting for the recovery of ancestral lands in Asuncion, Paraguay, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Leader Mateo Martinez has denounced that the Paraguayan state has built a bridge on their land in El Chaco's Bartolome de las Casas, Presidente Hayes department. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)

Prosecutors said the women did not know the man until the incident.

A spokesperson for the prosecutors' office in Kempten, Thomas Hörmann, said the investigation into the incident is continuing but it may be three or four months before authorities decide on an indictment.

Copyright 2023 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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The Independent

American man admits rape and murder of tourist on trail of 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.

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.

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

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Police and prosecutors say four people have been killed in shootings in northern Germany and the suspect is a soldier who turned himself in

BERLIN -- Four people were killed in shootings in northern Germany, police and prosecutors said Friday, and the suspect is a soldier who turned himself in.

The four victims, including a child, were shot overnight at locations in the rural Scheessel and Bothel areas, near Hannover and Bremen, authorities said in a statement.

The suspect, a German soldier, turned himself in to police shortly after the shooting, they said. His motive wasn't immediately clear, but they said that “a motive in the family environment cannot be ruled out.”

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A commercial passenger flight bound for North Carolina was diverted to an island southeast of the Bahamas Wednesday after a woman on board suffered a medical emergency and died, police said.

The  Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force reported the commercial flight was heading to Charlotte when a 41-year-old woman fell ill.

American Airlines flight 2790 departed from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic before it was diverted to Providenciales International Airport "for the medical needs of a passenger," a spokesperson for the airline said in a statement obtained by USA TODAY.

Just before 6:15 p.m., police said, officers received a call from Air Traffic Control Tower requesting medical assistance for the woman who, at the time, was receiving CPR.

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A medical team, along with police units, were dispatched, and the woman was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.

An autopsy was slated to be performed to determine the woman's cause of death, authorities said.

The flight continued to Charlotte the following day, the airline spokesperson said.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

IMAGES

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

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  2. Tourist dies after attack near Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle

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  3. Tourist dies after attack near Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle

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  4. NYPD Identifies a Suspect in German Tourist Attack

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  6. American arrested for pushing 2 US tourists into ravine at German

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COMMENTS

  1. American man admits to attacking 2 US tourists and killing one near a

    2. Updated 6:59 PM PST, February 19, 2024. 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 ...

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    Two American tourists who police say were attacked - one fatally - while hiking in Germany were identified as recent graduates of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, according to the ...

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

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  4. American man pushed 2 U.S. tourists into ravine at German castle

    By Associated Press. 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 ...

  5. American man admits rape and murder of woman near German castle

    Last modified on Mon 19 Feb 2024 11.44 EST. An American man has admitted to charges of murder and rape after he allegedly pushed two US women down a ravine, fatally injuring one of them, near ...

  6. Man admits to rape, murder of US tourist in Germany

    A US man has confessed to raping and killing a fellow American tourist near Germany's famed Neuschwanstein Castle last June. Troy Philipp B faces several charges, including one count of murder ...

  7. American man charged with murder after attack on US women in Germany

    Last modified on Mon 19 Jun 2023 09.34 EDT. Two US women who had just earned computer-related college degrees had gone to southern Germany to celebrate when a fellow American whom they met while ...

  8. An American tourist has died following an attack near Germany's ...

    A 21-year-old American woman died after being assaulted and pushed down a slope by an American man near one of Germany 's most popular tourist sights, Neuschwanstein Castle, in Bavaria ...

  9. Man arrested in killing of U.S. tourist at Germany's Neuschwanstein

    2 min. 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 ...

  10. American man indicted on murder charges over deadly attack on 2 U.S

    U.S. man arrested in fatal attack on American tourists near German castle 01:28. An American man has been charged with murder and other offenses for attacking two women from the U.S. near ...

  11. American arrested for pushing 2 US tourists into ravine at German

    A U.S. hiker who was sexually assaulted and killed in Germany last week had just graduated from the University of Illinois with a computer science degree in May. A Michigan man attacked her and a 22-year-old friend while they were hiking near Neuschwanstein castle on June 14. ... Police said the man they arrested was American and described him ...

  12. US tourist killed after man pushed her off steep slope at popular

    0:25. 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 ...

  13. Fatal attack near castle in Germany sees police appeal for help as U.S

    U.S. man arrested in fatal attack on American tourists near German castle 01:28. German police were appealing Friday for photos and video in relation to an attack near a castle in Germany that ...

  14. German police appeal for images taken of an attack in which Americans

    Tourists stand on the Marienbr'cke bridge, near the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Authorities say an American man has been arrested in Germany after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left one of the women dead.

  15. American Man Arrested for Pushing 2 U.S. Tourists into Ravine at German

    Updated on June 16, 2023 02:08PM EDT. An American man is in custody for pushing two U.S. tourists off a bridge in Germany, leaving one dead and another seriously injured. The incident occurred on ...

  16. American woman injured in fatal attack on fellow American tourist near

    U.S. man arrested in fatal attack on American tourists near German castle 01:28. Police in Germany said Monday that a 22-year-old American injured in an attack Thursday near a castle in Germany ...

  17. Neuschwanstein castle: What we know about two American women thrown off

    T he fairytale backdrop of a historic castle in Germany became the site of a horrific attack when two US women were thrown over the edge of a steep gorge — allegedly by an American man.. Eva Liu ...

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    Frank Rumpenhorst / AP. BERLIN — Police in southern Germany said Monday that an American tourist who was pushed into a ravine during an attack near Neuschwanstein castle in which her 21-year-old ...

  19. Woman dead after man 'throws two American tourists down ravine' at

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  20. American victims in deadly German castle tourist attack are named

    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 ...

  21. Tourist dies after attack near Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle

    A suspect under arrest for the death of an American tourist near Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. Eric Abneri / Twitter A 21-year-old woman died after getting attacked by a 30-year-old American ...

  22. American Woman Who Was Pushed and Fell 165 Feet Near German Castle Is

    BERLIN (AP) — Police in southern Germany said Monday that an American tourist who was pushed into a ravine during an attack near Neuschwanstein castle in which her 21-year-old friend was killed ...

  23. American man admits rape and murder of tourist on trail of famous ...

    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 ...

  24. American couple missing: Family describes violent scene left behind on

    The family of two Americans who may have been killed after prison escapees allegedly hijacked their yacht in Granada are clinging to hope the couple might be found alive. CNN values your feedback 1.

  25. American tourist killed in Germany after being pushed down a slope

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