12-year-old sexually abused for months in Vienna – 17 young people suspected. EU Public Prosecution Service warns of criminal influence on politicians

According to police findings, a 12-year-old girl in Austria was repeatedly forced to have sex by a total of 17 suspects over a period of months, including threats. Police spokespeople said in Vienna on Friday that an investigation into suspected sexual abuse was underway.

In one case, the victim said violence was used, leading to a 16-year-old being charged with rape. Due to the age of the victim, even in cases where no violence occurred, serious sexual abuse of a minor occurred.

On Thursday, 13 young people were arrested at the same time for questioning, later released and reported. The other suspects are minors or their identities are still unknown. The young people are said to come from Austria, Syria, Turkey, Bulgaria, Italy and Serbia.

The now 13-year-old Austrian appeared at the police station with her mother in October 2023 and described the crimes, it was said. She felt forced into sexual contacts, among other things, by threats such as the announcement that she would publish photos and a video of her.

According to the police, the incidents took place in Vienna from February 2023 to June 2023. The victim spoke of “several times a week for several months”. The crime scene included stairwells, parking garages, apartments and a hotel room. “Specifically, the victim often skipped school to meet the suspect,” said a police spokesperson.

The suspects, almost all of whom were known to police for property and violent crimes, knew each other through spending time in parks, the report said. The then twelve-year-old met one of the young people there for the first time. The series of attacks ended when the girl met her current boyfriend, who was the same age, police said. (sda/dpa)