Child abuse

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Drama in Vienna-Brigittenau: As the "Krone" learned, the police are investigating the parents of an infant. They are suspected of attempted murder.

(Bild: thinkstockphotos.de (Symbolbild))

One day after it became known that a baby was hospitalized in Vienna with a shaking trauma, there are new developments: The girl's parents have been remanded in custody. Meanwhile, doctors continue to fight for the newborn girl's life ... 

The father and mother of an infant were arrested in Vienna-Brigittenau on Friday for serious child abuse. The girl was taken to hospital shortly before Christmas in a critical condition with severe shaking trauma.

Contradictory statements about injuries
The parents provided contradictory information, which is why the police were called in. On Saturday, the Vienna public prosecutor's office applied for pre-trial detention, as spokeswoman Nina Bussek explained on Friday. The parents were taken into custody on Sunday.

However, there are no new developments regarding the condition of the newborn. The newborn girl is still fighting for her life in hospital. The investigation, which was taken over by the State Office of Criminal Investigation on December 20, is being conducted on suspicion of attempted murder, as police spokesman Philipp Haßlinger emphasized. The 26-year-old man and the woman (22) have been in custody since Friday. 

The parents are strongly suspected of having severely abused their newborn child.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com - Kadmy )

Older rib fractures proven
In the first interrogations, the parents stated that the five-year-old sister had fallen over the baby, which is said to have caused the child's injuries. However, further medical examinations revealed that the two-month-old baby also had older injuries. In addition, the severity of the injuries was not consistent with the alleged fall, as the investigators of the Gradinger Group of the Vienna Criminal Police Office, Center East Branch, determined. According to police spokesman Haßlinger, older rib fractures of the child were also discovered.

Based on these new findings, the public prosecutor's office ordered the arrest of the parents, which was carried out by the criminal investigation department. It was not possible to question the Syrian father until he was taken to prison. The 22-year-old mother, also from Syria, stood by her statement that her sister's fall was responsible for the baby's injuries. She was also taken to a prison as a result.

Three other children in the care of MA 11
Municipal Department 11 (MA 11) took over the care of the couple's three other children and brought them to a crisis center. One of the children was placed in a crisis foster family. As no relatives were found, the children are still with the authority. According to MA-11 spokeswoman Ingrid Pöschmann, the children are doing well under the circumstances. The case was "shocking" and cooperation with the police had been good. The family was previously unknown to MA 11. Investigations, in particular into possible violence against the other children, are ongoing.