Latest news with #Hesse
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Pool sex assault epidemic sweeps Germany with 74 attacks in just one region after Syrian men arrested for ‘groping kids'
A DISTURBING epidemic is sweeping through Germany with hundreds of people reporting sexual assaults in public swimming pools. In one of the worst hit regions, 74 alleged attacks have been recorded recently with several involving children - including eight young girls in one day. 3 3 The issue has started to raise questions across Germany after a concerning number of reports were made last weekend. Cops arrested four Syrian suspects, aged 18 to 28, and accused them of sexually assaulting up to eight girls in a public swimming pool in Hesse. They were aged between 11 to 16 and had all been at the Barbarossabad pool on the same day. And now further stats have shown a total of 74 cases of sexual violence were registered in Hesse's swimming pools alone in 2024. The study, done by the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), marks a worrying trend in the region with the number rising from 2023. It also provided an insight into the main culprits of the alleged assaults. In 60 per cent of cases, the suspects were not born in Germany. And out of the 57 people questioned by cops over the allegations, only two were women. Hesse's Interior Minister Roman Poseck has made it clear that any formal complaint must be taken seriously so any recurring fiends can be taken off the streets. He demanded: "The incidents at the swimming pool in Gelnhausen must be investigated swiftly and comprehensively. "We must not allow our swimming pools to become sites of sexual assault." Elsewhere, Cologne has been forced to put up makeshift posters raising awareness of potential poolside dangers. The sign shows a blonde man grabbing a young woman from behind as they both swim. The heading reads: "Stop! No groping!" There are said to be dozens of the posters spread across the city. Despite the concerning national rise, German police are refusing to say swimming pools have become a hotspot for sexual crimes. But Peter Harzheim, the president of the Federal Association of German Swimming Masters (BDS), says the numbers are worrying. He said: "Many people are getting out of control because the sun is shining on their brains. "The number of skilled workers is decreasing, which creates the risk that we will no longer be able to keep an eye on everything and intervene accordingly." The issue has been a long-standing one for many Germans. Back in 2016, a town banned male asylum seekers from a public swimming pool after several women complained of harassment. A government official in Bornheim said the men would be barred until they "got the message" that such behaviour will not be tolerated. 3
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
At least nine girls as young as 11 sexually assaulted in public pool by ‘family of Syrian men who groped them in water'
AT LEAST nine girls as young as 11 were sexually assaulted in a public swimming pool in Hesse, Germany. Cops arrested four suspects aged 18 to 28 who are Syrian nationals, the Southeast Hesse Police Headquarters confirmed to German newspaper Bild. 1 The heinous attacks occurred last Sunday at the Barbarossabad swimming pool. Several girls are said to have reported to pool staff that they had been assaulted by a group of men in the whirlpool area. Two of the men arrested are reportedly related. Criminal charges have since been filed against all of the suspects, who have also been banned from the pool. Five young girls initially came forward to report the incidents, but as the assaults became public knowledge, more bravely came forward. The victims also testified that they had been sexually harassed. A total of eight girls aged just 11 to 16 were victims of sexual assault at the pool. It currently cannot be ruled out that other girls or women were affected, reports claim. .
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Four members of Syrian family 'sexually abuse nine girls aged 11 to 17 at German swimming pool'
Four members of a Syrian family have been accused of sexually abusing girls aged 11 to 17 at a swimming pool in Germany. The children, who told lifeguards they had been sexually harassed in the water, were reportedly sent back into the water before any police were called. Four young Syrian men aged between 18 and 28 have been identified as suspects. Officers were able to speak to three of the men at the pool on Sunday, while a fourth had already left the premises. Christian Litzinger, the mayor of Gelnhausen, said all four men were known to authorities and live locally in the Main-Kinzig district. The alleged incident took place at the Barbarossabad outdoor pool in Gelnhausen, Hesse, where five schoolgirls initially came forward and reported being assaulted in the water. Despite their claims, pool staff is said to have told the girls to return to swimming, allegedly asking them to report back if anything else happened. In an interview with local outlet Hessenschau, pool manager Nils Tischer said: 'Since we couldn't see exactly what had happened, we sent the girls back into the water with the instruction that they should please let us know if anything happened.' It wasn't until more girls approached lifeguards, saying they too had been sexually harassed, that police were finally called to the scene. Police has since told Bild that they are now probing the claims of nine girls, aged between 11 and 17, who say they were inappropriately touched by a group of men in the whirlpool area of the pool. Tischer added to Bild: 'Of course, the shock is great. We are paying increased attention to our guests at the current channel, i.e. the location of the incident, and are grateful for the police's support.' The mayor also said: 'This is the first incident of its kind in Barbarossabad. Before that, it was limited to minor thefts or insults. So we never expected something like this here.' The city has since banned all four men from entering the pool and has increased police presence to support pool staff. Investigations into the alleged assaults are ongoing. Germany is home to the largest Syrian population away from the Middle East. Many fled from the devastation of the Syrian war. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel came under fire from political opponents when she welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
German cartel office: DFL must update its 50+1 regulations
The logo of the German football league (DFL) can be seen at the entrance to the DFL headquarters in Hesse. German football authorities must make sure that all clubs are treated in the same way regarding the 50+1 rule which prevents takeovers by investors, the German Federal Cartel Office said on Monday. Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa German football authorities must make sure that all clubs are treated in the same way regarding the 50+1 rule which prevents takeovers by investors, the German Federal Cartel Office said on Monday. The cartel authority said it would close the case if the German Football League (DFL) modifies its rules accordingly. Advertisement The preliminary assessment reiterated that 50+1 does not violate antitrust laws in principle, but that the DFL must gradually end its exemption status for some clubs. This currently applies for Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig. Leverkusen and Wolfsburg are owned by chemical company Bayer and car makers Volkswagen, respectively. Leipzig are backed by drinks makers Red Bull and have only 23 voting members. Under the 50+1 rule, which only applies in Germany, club members must have a majority of 50% of the vote, plus one. Exceptions are possible if a a club has been backed by more than 20 years by an investor. The cartel office said that recent rulings by the European Court of Justice mean that the DFL must change its rules in this area. Advertisement "The investigations have shown that the DFL does not take sufficient care in its licensing practice to ensure that all Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs consistently offer their fans the opportunity to be admitted as full new members with voting rights," the statement said. "The 50+1 rule can only fulfil its objective of shaping the clubs, which can exempt it from antitrust law, if the accessibility of the clubs is strictly enforced. "The DFL will have to ensure this in the future if it wants the 50+1 rule to be applied with legal certainty," the cartel office said. The cartel office said it was not investigating against the DFL but upon a request by it from several years ago for a ruling.
Belfast Telegraph
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Dan Harper admits his disappointment as drive-through penalty dents Detroit Grand Prix challenge
The reprimand in the closing stages of the series' Fourth Round – the Detroit Grand Prix – meant Harper and his Paul Miller Racing team-mate Max Hesse crossed the line seventh. It was meted out by stewards after Hesse was deemed to have made contact with one of the Fords as he attempted to find a way past, with the penalty costing them valuable time. Despite struggling to get their BMW M4 GT3 in the right operating window on the low-grip, street-based circuit, they still managed to bag a second-row start for the 100-minute race. That laid the foundations for a potential high points haul and even a silverware challenge – and Harper started in positive fashion as he moved ahead of the sister Paul Miller Racing car when the lights went out. He maintained the position throughout his stint before he handed the reins to Hesse, who kept up his push for a spot in the winners' enclosure. However, the coming-together with the Ford saw both drivers' good work come to nought and leave them provisionally sixth in the standings on 1128 points after four rounds – 170 in arrears of AO Racing Porche duo Klaus Bachler and Laurin Heinrich who lead the table. 'It was a disappointing race to end a tricky few days in Detroit,' reflected the Hillsborough man. 'We struggled through free practice on Friday as we tried to get the car in the right window on the low-grip circuit and could not quite match the pace of our GTD Pro rivals. 'Qualifying in fourth was better than we expected, we were happy with that, and the race started well, getting into the top three, but unfortunately, it slowly unravelled from there. 'Quicker cars were able to jump ahead on pit stop strategy, and then a small mistake from Max led to contact and a penalty. We salvaged some points with seventh, though, and we will push for more next time out,' added Harper, who is next in action across the Atlantic later in June at the 3.4-mile Watkins Glen International circuit in the state of New York. In their own backyard, Ford was handed a popular GTD Pro triumph thanks to the No.46 crew of Seb Priaulx and Mike Rockenfeller. They steered their Multimatic Motorsports-run Mustang GT3 to a 1.623-second win from the No.3 Corvette Racing and Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R co-driven by Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims. Pfaff Motorsports' Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 was the last of the podium finishers.
