Victim (29) lost child

Suspicion of rape: Youth gang in custody

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(Bild: Markus Tschepp)

A new case of serial abuse has shocked Vienna: the public prosecutor's office is currently investigating a group of young people aged between 14 and 17 for alleged sexual offenses and other serious allegations. According to the "Krone" newspaper, the victim is a 29-year-old teacher.

Specifically, proceedings are being conducted against a total of seven young men on suspicion of rape, blackmail and arson, five of whom are in pre-trial detention, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office officially confirmed on Thursday afternoon. Five young people are in custody.

The first details from the judicial file have now leaked out: The victim is therefore a 29-year-old Viennese woman, as the "Krone" learned. Some of the suspects have Iraqi, Romanian, Afghan (2) and Austrian (2) citizenship.

Child lost
As has now also been confirmed: The Viennese woman is said to have started an "intimate relationship" with one of the suspects around a year ago. Apparently she then became pregnant and was pressured by the suspect to abort the child - the young teacher then lost her baby, according to judicial circles.

Victim was blackmailed
Previously, recordings of sex meetings were allegedly made and the woman was subsequently blackmailed. The victim also feared being dismissed from her school in Vienna. She was told to get drugs and pay money.

Finally, she was allegedly "raped for several hours" by three young men on two days each. Her apartment was also set on fire, according to the judicial file.

Suspects refused to make statements
The suspects - at least one of whom is a pupil at the alleged victim's school in Vienna - largely exercised their right to refuse to testify. One only admitted to drug deals, but was otherwise not aware of any guilt.

Another confessed to having photographed the victim's ATM card - the sexual intercourse had been "voluntary".

Similar cases of abuse
The gruesome case is reminiscent of serious cases of abuse that took place just last year. The Anna case caused horror throughout Austria. The girl was abused for several months by teenagers from Antonspark in Vienna-Favoriten. In another case, two schoolgirls in Salzburg aged 15 and 16 were sexually abused by a group of teenagers.