An American man has been arrested for allegedly pushing two women into a gorge near to the Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany.
One of the woman died after falling down the steep slope, and the other was seriously injured.
The suspect is also alleged to have attempted to sexually assault one of the women.
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The two women - both US citizens, according to prosecutors - were allegedly pushed down a slope near to the Marienbrucke, a bridge that crosses over the gorge and is hugely popular with tourists as it offers great views of Neuschwanstein castle, which was said to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle.
The 30-year-old man encountered the 21 and 22-year-old women on a walking path and then enticed them onto a trail that leads on to a viewpoint, according to the police.
Police spokesperson Holger Stabik said: “The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect.
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“The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope.”
It is then claimed that the suspect attempted to sexually assault the other woman before shoving her down the slope as well, sending her down 50 metres and landing her near to her friend.
Mountain rescue teams got to both women, with the 22-year-old described as ‘responsive’ before getting taken to hospital.
The 21-year-old was airlifted by a helicopter and taken to another hospital with serious injuries.
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She died there overnight.
A witness to the incident, University of Pittsburgh recent graduate Eric Abneri, said that the man had scratches on his face when he was taken off by the police.
“He did not say a single word. He didn’t open his mouth; he didn’t mumble,” Abneri said.
“He just walked with the police and that was it.”
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The witness said that he and his friends arrived at the scene as the helicopter came, watching the rescuers lower themselves down to help the stricken women.
“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff," he continued.
“[It was] 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.
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“They did an unbelievable job.”
Police have now confirmed that the man arrested was American and a tourist.
The 22-year-old survivor was still in hospital as of Thursday (15 June), prosecutors said.
Neither suspect nor victims have been identified to date.
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A judge has ordered that the suspect be detained pending investigation before potential indictment.
He is being investigated on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, and a sexual offence.
Topics: World News, US News, Travel, Disney
Tom Wood