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 them, all juveniles, are in custody, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office officially confirmed on Thursday afternoon.

In the meantime, the first details from the judicial file have leaked out: According to the file, the victim is 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 the oldest suspect around a year ago. Apparently, she then became pregnant by the now 17-year-old and was pressured by him to abort the child - the young teacher lost her baby as a result, according to judicial circles.

Victim was blackmailed
Previously, recordings of sex meetings were allegedly made and the woman was subsequently blackmailed. She was supposed to buy and take drugs and pay money. The victim feared being dismissed from her school.

Finally, she was "raped for several hours" by three young men on two days each. Her apartment was also set on fire, according to the judicial file. Out of shame and fear, the victim of the abuse remained silent for almost a year - including an act of desperation.

Suspects refused to make statements
Meanwhile, the suspects - former pupils 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 act is reminiscent of serious cases of abuse that took place just last year. The Anna case caused horror throughout Austria. The girl was abused by teenagers in Vienna-Favoriten over a period of several months. In another case, two schoolgirls in Salzburg aged 15 and 16 were sexually abused by a group of teenagers.