tourist attack in germany

American man pushed 2 U.S. tourists into ravine at German castle, killing one woman, police say

An American man has been arrested in the death of a U.S. tourist and an assault on another near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany after he allegedly pushed the two women down a steep slope, authorities said Thursday.

The incident near the popular tourist attraction happened on Wednesday afternoon near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a famous view of Neuschwanstein.

The 30-year-old man met the two female tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint, police said in a statement.

He then “physically attacked” the younger woman, police said. When her companion tried to intervene, he choked her and pushed her down a steep slope.

The assailant then appears to have attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well. She fell nearly 165 feet, ending up close to her friend.

A mountain rescue team reached both women. The 22-year-old was “responsive” and taken to a hospital, police said; a helicopter carried the 21-year-old to a different hospital with serious injuries, and she died there overnight.

The suspect left the scene but was arrested quickly nearby. Bystander video posted online showed police leading away a handcuffed man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

Witness Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who shot the video, said the man appeared to have scratches across his face.

“He did not say a single word. He didn’t open his mouth; he didn’t mumble,” Abneri told The Associated Press. “He just walked with the police and that was it.”

Abneri said he and friends arrived at the scenic overlook as a helicopter arrived and they saw rescuers lower themselves down to the victims.

“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff,” he said.

Abneri described it as “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.”

“They did an unbelievable job,” he said.

Police said the man they arrested was American and described him as also a tourist; prosecutors said the women were fellow U.S. citizens. The 22-year-old remained hospitalized Thursday, according to prosecutors.

Authorities didn’t identify either the suspect or the victims or give any further details.

Police said a judge in nearby Kempten on Thursday ordered the suspect held pending a potential indictment — a process that can take months — and he was taken to jail. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense.

Police said they and prosecutors were focusing on trying to reconstruct exactly what happened and called for any witnesses to come forward.

Neuschwanstein, located in southern Bavaria close to Austria’s border, is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions.

It is the most famous of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century. Construction started in 1869 but was never completed. Ludwig died in 1886.

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An American is arrested over the death of a U.S. tourist at a German castle

The Associated Press

Authorities say a tourist has died after a man attacked her and a companion near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany. The incident near the popular tourist attraction close to the Austrian border happened Wednesday afternoon. Frank Rumpenhorst/AP hide caption

Authorities say a tourist has died after a man attacked her and a companion near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany. The incident near the popular tourist attraction close to the Austrian border happened Wednesday afternoon.

BERLIN — Police in southern Germany are appealing for photos and videos taken by witnesses of an attack near Neuschwanstein castle in which an American man allegedly pushed two women down a steep slope, killing one of them. A suspect was arrested following the attack.

German news agency dpa quoted police as saying Friday that they have so far received about a dozen submissions on a specially created website , but assume many more images were taken by tourists present at the site.

"We are looking for photographs which, by chance, show two young women and a man (approx. 30 years old) who were staying east of the Marienbruecke," Kempten police said on their website. "These persons may have been walking together or separately."

In this image taken from video, a suspect is taken away by two police officers near Neuschwanstein castle in Schwangau, southern Germany on Thursday. An American man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two U.S. tourists near the castle and then pushing them down a steep slope. Eric Abneri/AP hide caption

In this image taken from video, a suspect is taken away by two police officers near Neuschwanstein castle in Schwangau, southern Germany on Thursday. An American man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two U.S. tourists near the castle and then pushing them down a steep slope.

The Marienbruecke, or Mary's Bridge, is a popular vantage point for photos of Neuschwanstein, the most famous of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century.

According to the initial police investigation, the suspect met the two female tourists, Americans aged 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint.

"The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect," police spokesman Holger Stabik said. "The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope."

The assailant then appears to have attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well, prosecutors said. She fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), ending up close to her friend.

Both women were recovered by mountain rescuers. The 21-year-old was flown to a hospital with serious injuries and later died. The 22-year-old remains hospitalized, but is "responsive," police said.

Authorities haven't named either of the victims or given any further details.

People watch the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Frank Rumpenhorst/AP hide caption

People watch the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023.

The suspect, who likewise was not identified, remains in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, prosecutors said, adding it wasn't clear how long he had been in the country.

The U.S. Embassy in Berlin said it was aware of the incident and the consulate in Munich was in contact with authorities.

"Due to privacy considerations, we are unable to comment further at this time," the embassy said in a statement.

• neuschwanstein

American tourist killed, another injured in attack near Germany's Neuschwanstein castle, police say

Neuschwanstein was the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty."

BERLIN and LONDON -- An American tourist was killed and another was injured when they were attacked by an American man they met near the famous Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, authorities said Thursday.

The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon in the German state of Bavaria near the Marienbruecke, a pedestrian bridge popular for its stunning view of Neuschwanstein. Nestled on the edge of the Bavarian Alps, the 19th-century palace was the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty." Two women, ages 21 and 22, met a 30-year-old man on a hiking trail east of the bridge who then lured them onto a path that led to a viewpoint, according to a statement from the Bavarian State Police.

MORE: 2 Americans found dead in hotel room in Baja California Sur, Mexico: Police

The man then "physically attacked" the younger woman, police said. When the other woman tried to intervene, the man choked her and pushed her down a steep slope. He then apparently attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before also pushing her down the slope. Both women fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), according to police.

A mountain rescue service from the nearby town of Fuessen rescued both women. The 22-year-old was injured but responsive and taken to a hospital. The 21-year-old suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital, where she died overnight, police said.

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The suspect had left the scene but was arrested close by soon after, according to police.

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Although the names of the suspect and the victims have not yet been released, a Bavarian State Police spokesperson confirmed to ABC News that all three were American tourists.

The suspect appeared before a judge in the nearby town of Kempten on Thursday and was ordered to be held in jail pending a potential indictment. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and sexual offense, according to police.

Police have called for any witnesses to come forward as they continue to investigate the alleged attack.

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Man arrested in killing of U.S. tourist on cliff near German castle

The 30-year-old is in custody after allegedly pushing two female tourists off a cliff near neuschwanstein castle.

German police arrested a 30-year-old U.S. man in the killing and attempted sexual assault of an American tourist last week near Neuschwanstein Castle , a popular tourist attraction in Bavaria.

Police said he pushed two women down a 150-foot drop close to the edge of a pedestrian bridge that overlooks the castle in southern Germany outside the village of Schwangau.

A 21-year-old woman died in the hospital after the Füssen mountain rescue service retrieved her with a helicopter, police said . Her 22-year-old friend, whom police said the suspect choked when she intervened in the attack, survived the fall. The man and both women are U.S. citizens, the Associated Press reported . Their identities were not released by officials.

This week, family members and a church leader identified the victims as recent graduates of the University of Illinois. Eva Liu, 21, died in the incident, according to the Rev. Mark Zhang of Living Water Evangelical Church in Naperville, Ill. The family attended the church and Liu’s parents told him that she had been killed, the AP reported . Kelsey Chang, 22, of Normal, Ill., survived the attack and was reportedly on a flight back to the United States on Tuesday. The suspect is from Michigan, according to the AP and ABC 7 Chicago .

According to police, the three tourists met on a hiking trail east of the Marienbrücke bridge in the German Alps, and the man lured the two women to a trail out of public view. Police suspect he attempted a sexual attack on the 21-year-old, and he choked and pushed the 22-year-old when she tried to intervene.

At Neuschwanstein, there was a rescue of multiple people from a helicopter and one was taken out in handcuffs, seemingly after they fell from a cliff and climbed over railings. pic.twitter.com/yVGqqSRlwX — Eric Abneri (@thefrownyface) June 14, 2023

The man was arrested near the scene shortly after authorities launched a search upon receiving a complaint around 2:40 p.m. June 14. The suspect appeared in Kempten District Court the following day and was taken to a correctional facility, police say.

Another visitor, Eric Abneri, who captured video of the arrest, told the Associated Press that the man appeared to have scratches on his face. Abneri and his friends also saw the rescue.

“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this,” Abneri told the AP. “It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff.”

Bavarian king Ludwig II ordered the construction of the Neuschwanstein Castle in the 19th century. It is one of the most visited castles in Europe .

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Tourist dies after attack near Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle

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American woman injured in fatal attack on fellow American tourist near German castle released from hospital

By Haley Ott , Brian Dakss

June 20, 2023 / 4:33 AM EDT / CBS News

Police in Germany said Monday that a 22-year-old American injured in an attack Thursday near a castle in Germany that led to the death of her 21-year-old American friend has been released from a hospital.

Police spokesperson Holger Stabik said the was able to leave the hospital on Friday, according to The Associated Press.

The woman was hurt when she and her friend were assaulted, allegedly by another American tourist.

Police in the southeast German state of Bavaria confirmed to CBS News that a U.S. national was arrested in connection with the incident, and Stefan Rinke, the mayor of Schwangau, in Bavaria, told local media that all three people involved were American.

Their names haven't been released due to German privacy laws.

The women were hiking near Neuschwanstein Castle, which inspired the castle in Disney's movie "Cinderella" and attracts more than a million tourists a year, when they met a 30-year-old man who told them to follow him down a trail leading to a secret viewpoint.

When the two women followed him, the suspect attacked the 21-year-old victim, Stabik said. Her friend tried to intervene and the man choked her and pushed her down a steep slope. He then attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old, Stabik said, before pushing her down the slope as well.

Both women fell approximately 165 feet.

Rescue workers found the two women and the 21-year-old was flown by helicopter to a hospital, where she died of her injuries. Stabik told CBS News on Friday that the 22-year-old woman suffered minor injuries.

"The perpetrator at first moved away from the scene of the crime after the assault," Stabik told journalists on Thursday. "Whether this was a classic escape or not is not entirely known. In any case, he was then arrested a short time later by police officers on the basis of a witness tip in the immediate vicinity of the crime."

Stabik said police have received about two dozen photos and videos on a specially created website, adding that investigators are asking anyone who has more video or images of the suspect and victims to provide them to police.

Eric Abneri was visiting Neuschwanstein Castle from New York and captured video on his phone of the suspect being led away by police.

"His face was covered in deep red scratch marks and his neck as well," Abneri told CBS News on Thursday. "There was clearly a struggle there, and he just had a frown on his face. He didn't say anything. He had a sort of disturbed look."

A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Berlin told CBS News on Thursday that it was "aware of an incident involving multiple individuals" but declined to provide further information citing "privacy considerations."   

The official said the embassy was communicating with German authorities on the matter.

A spokesperson for prosecutors told the AP it might take as long as four months for them to decide whether to indict the suspect.

CBS News' Anna Noryskiewicz in Berlin and Emmet Lyons in London contributed to this report.

Haley Ott is the CBS News Digital international reporter, based in the CBS News London bureau.

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German castle attack: American victims in deadly Neuschwanstein tourist attack are named

Two university of illinois were shoved into a ravine in the german state of bavaria, article bookmarked.

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The two American women who were attacked while they hiked a trail near a famous castle in Germany had recently graduated college.

Eva Liu, 21, and Kelsey Chang, 22, had travelled to Germany following their May graduation from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DailyMail.com first reported.

A university spokesperson confirmed in a statement to The Independent that Ms Chang and Ms Liu were the victims shoved down into a ravine near the historic Neuschwanstein Castle in the German state Bavaria on Wednesday. Ms Liu died as a result of injuries she sustained during the 164ft fall, while Ms Chang remains in hospital.

“Both had just graduated in May and should have been able to celebrate such an important accomplishment without the fear of such a tragic outcome,” the office of the university chancellor said. “Our thoughts are with Ms. Chang as she recovers and with both of their families as they grieve.”

A 30-year-old American man has been arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and sexual offences.

• A famous castle, attempted sex assault and a deadly shove: What happened to the American women thrown off a German cliff?
• German police appeal for witness footage of attack in which Americans were thrown into Alpine gorge
• American woman dead after man ‘throws two tourists off bridge’ at German fairytale castle

What we know about the attack by Neuschwanstein castle

An idyllic tourist spot in Germany became the site of a shocking tragedy when two American women were thrown over the edge of a steep gorge - allegedly by an American man who sexually assaulted them.

German police are investigating an incident which took place Wednesday (15 June) near the famous Neuschwanstein castle.

A 30-year-old suspect allegedly attempted to assault the two women before forcing them over a ledge.

Both women, ages 21 and 22, were rescued, but the younger one died of her injuries soon after.

The victims and alleged assailant have yet to be named.

Here’s what we know so far:

What we know about two women being thrown off cliff near German castle

Police investigating incident as murder, writes Josh Marcus

Witness describes scratches on suspect’s face

Video posted online showed police arresting the 30-year-old suspect after he fled from the scene of the attack. He is seen wearing a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

The video was recorded by Eric Aberneri, who told the Associated Press that the man appeared to have scratches on his face.

“He did not say a single word. He didn’t open his mouth; he didn’t mumble,” Mr Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, told the outlet. “He just walked with the police and that was it.”

Mr Abneri also described how he and his friends reached the scenic overlook as a helicopter flew in to rescue the victims.

“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff,” he said.

He said the rescue was “very, very difficult” as the helicopter had to hover just feet over the treeline as crews were lowered down to the victims.

“They did an unbelievable job,” he said of the rescuers.

What do we know about the suspect?

Little is known about the suspect, other than that he is a 30-year-old American man.

He did not know the victims prior to the attack, authorities said.

The man reportedly appeared in court on Thursday and was ordered to be held in jail pending an indictment - which could take months, the Associated Press reported.

He is being investigated on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense.

Where is Neuschwanstein castle?

Neuschwanstein castle sits in the foothills of the Alps on Germany’s southern edge.

It was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria , with construction beginning in 1869 but never actually coming to completion.

The king never ended up living at the castle before his death in 1886, after which it was opening to the public.

The towering estate is one of Germany ‘s most popular tourist attractions and is said to have been the inspiration for various Disney castles.

More than 1.3 million people visit the site each year, with up to 6,000 visitors each day in during the peak summer season.

Neuschwanstein castle sits in the foothills of the Alps on Germany’s southern edge

A woman admires Neuschwanstein castle from a bridge overlook

ICYMI: Two US women attacked by American while touring castle in Germany

On Wednesday afternoon, two American women, aged 21 and 22, were forced off a steep ledge at the Marienbrücke, a pedestrain bridge with sweeping views of the castle, which sits above a high river gorge.

“The two tourists met the man on a hiking tour east of the Marienbrücke,” Chief Public Prosecutor Thomas Hörmann told German tabloid Bild.

“The man then steered the two under a pretext to a trail that was difficult to see, which leads to a viewpoint,” Bavarian police said in a statement .

Once out of sight, the 30-year-old assailant reportedly tried to attack the women, going after the younger woman first, prompting the 22-year-old to try and defend her, police said.

“The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect,” police spokesman Holger Stabik told the AP . “The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope. ”

After that, the man made an “attempted sexual offence” on the 21-year-old and pushed her over the ledge as well, DW reports .

American suspect to be tried in Germany, report says

German prosecutors are not considering extradition for the man accused of murdering an American tourist, according to the German outlet Rheinische Post .

However, a later transfer for the execution of the sentence is possible, a spokesperson for the local public prosecutor’s office said.

German police seeks help in investigation

Authorities in Kempten have asked witnesses who may have video or pictures of the moments leading up to the attack and the incident itself to forward them to the department. According to the German outlet Rheinische Post , police believe there is a lot of material that needs to be reviewed by detectives.

“We hope that this will further clarify the situation before and after the crime,” a police spokesman said.

Suspect. in custody

The suspect was caught after a massive police operation involving 25 emergency vehicles on Wednesday afternoon and taken to a police station in nearby Fuessen.

The American suspect is in a German correctional facility, as officials investigate the attack as a potential sexual offence, murder, and attempted murder.

“The allegation is not yet established,” prosecutor Hörmann told DW .

Kempten criminal police are leading the investigation , and are asking those with knowledge of the incident to get in contact with them.

Who is the alleged attacker?

Bavarian police said the attacker was a 30-year-old US national, DW reports .

The man appeared before a judge at the Kempten District Court, but did not comment on a motive behind the attack.

It is unclear how long he had been in Germany, but he has been described by local authorities as a tourist.

Bystander video posted online showed police leading away a handcuffed, bearded man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

German police arrest man accused of throwing women off bridge at castle

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American tourist dies after attack near Germany's famous Neuschwanstein castle

BERLIN -- An American tourist was killed and another was injured when they were attacked by an American man they met near the famous Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, authorities said Thursday.

The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon in the German state of Bavaria near the Marienbruecke, a pedestrian bridge popular for its stunning view of Neuschwanstein. Nestled on the edge of the Bavarian Alps, the 19th-century palace was the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty." Two women, ages 21 and 22, met a 30-year-old man on a hiking trail east of the bridge who then lured them onto a path that led to a viewpoint, according to a statement from the Bavarian State Police.

The man then "physically attacked" the younger woman, police said. When the other woman tried to intervene, the man choked her and pushed her down a steep slope. He then apparently attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before also pushing her down the slope. Both women fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), according to police.

A mountain rescue service from the nearby town of Fuessen rescued both women. The 22-year-old was injured but responsive and taken to a hospital. The 21-year-old suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital, where she died overnight, police said.

The suspect had left the scene but was arrested close by soon after, according to police.

Although the names of the suspect and the victims have not yet been released, a Bavarian State Police spokesperson confirmed to ABC News that all three were American tourists.

The suspect appeared before a judge in the nearby town of Kempten on Thursday and was ordered to be held in jail pending a potential indictment. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and sexual offense, according to police.

Police have called for any witnesses to come forward as they continue to investigate the alleged attack.

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Us tourist attempting sexual offense fatally pushes hiker off steep slope near german castle: officials.

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A 30-year-old American man has been arrested in Germany after police said he assaulted two young female tourists and pushed them into a deep ravine near the fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle, killing one of them.

The violent attack took place Wednesday afternoon near the Marienbruecke bridge spanning a gorge, which offers a world-famous view of the castle.

Police said in a statement that the suspect, who has not been identified, met the two fellow tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to an overlook.

The man then attacked the younger of the two women, police said.

When her friend tried to intervene, the American allegedly choked her and pushed her down a steep slope.

The suspect then allegedly tried to sexually assault the 21-year-old woman, before shoving her into the ravine as well.

She plummeted 164 feet and landed near her friend.

Mountain rescuers were able to reach both women at the bottom of the gorge.

The 22-year-old victim was “responsive” and taken to a hospital, police said.

A helicopter airlifted the 21-year-old woman to a different hospital with serious injuries, and she died there overnight.

The suspect fled the scene but was quickly apprehended nearby .

Bystander video posted on Twitter showed cops leading away a handcuffed man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

Witness Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who shot the video, said the man appeared to have scratches across his face.

“He did not say a single word. He didn’t open his mouth; he didn’t mumble,” Abneri told The Associated Press. “He just walked with the police and that was it.”

Abneri said he and friends reached the scenic overlook as a helicopter arrived and they witnessed rescuers lower themselves down to the victims.

“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff,” he said.

Abneri described it as “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.”

“They did an unbelievable job,” he said.

Police confirmed that the man they arrested was an American national and described him as a tourist.

Prosecutors said the victims were fellow US citizens.

The 22-year-old who survived the fall remained hospitalized Thursday.

Authorities didn’t identify anyone involved in the fatal incident or give any further details.

Police said a judge on Thursday ordered the suspect jailed pending a potential indictment — a process that can take months.

The 30-year-old is facing charges of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense.

Police said they and prosecutors were focusing on trying to reconstruct exactly what happened and called for any witnesses to come forward.

Neuschwanstein Castle, located in Bavaria about 65 miles southwest of Munich, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

According the castle’s website, about 1.4 million people visit the picturesque site built in the 19th century every year.

With Post wires

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German police appeal for images taken of an attack in which Americans were pushed down a steep slope

FILE - People stay on the Marien-Bridge at Castle Neuschwanstein, a 19th century creation by Bavaria’s fairy tale king Ludwig II and world renowned tourist attraction, is pictured in Hohenschwangau near Fuessen, southern Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. A U.S. hiker who was sexually assaulted and killed in Germany last week had just graduated from the University of Illinois with a computer science degree in May. A Michigan man attacked her and a 22-year-old friend while they were hiking near Neuschwanstein castle on June 14. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP, File)

People watch the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Authorities say an American man has been arrested in Germany after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left one of the women dead. Police said Thursday that the 30-year-old man met the two women on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail. They said the man then “physically attacked” the younger woman. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)

In this image taken from video, a suspect is taken away by two police officers near Neuschwanstein castle in Schwangau, southern Germany, Thursday June 15, 2023. An American man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two U.S. tourists near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany and then pushing them down a steep slope, an attack that left one of the women dead, authorities said Thursday. (Eric Abneri via AP)

Tourists stand on the Marienbr’cke bridge, near the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Authorities say an American man has been arrested in Germany after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left one of the women dead. Police said Thursday that the 30-year-old man met the two women on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail. They said the man then “physically attacked” the younger woman. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)

FILE - Castle Neuschwanstein, a 19th century creation by Bavaria’s fairy tale king Ludwig II and world renowned tourist attraction, is pictured in Hohenschwangau near Fuessen, southern Germany, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Authorities say a man has attacked two women near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, killing one. Police say the women were attacked Wednesday afternoon near the popular tourist site and the man fled but was arrested. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

A view of the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Authorities say an American man has been arrested in Germany after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left one of the women dead. Police said Thursday that the 30-year-old man met the two women on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail. They said the man then “physically attacked” the younger woman. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)

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BERLIN (AP) — Police in southern Germany are appealing for photos and videos taken by witnesses of an attack near Neuschwanstein castle in which an American man allegedly pushed two women down a steep slope, killing one of them. A suspect was arrested following the attack.

German news agency dpa quoted police as saying Friday that they have so far received about a dozen submissions on a specially created website , but assume many more images were taken by tourists present at the site.

“We are looking for photographs which, by chance, show two young women and a man (approx. 30 years old) who were staying east of the Marienbruecke,” Kempten police said on their website. “These persons may have been walking together or separately.”

The Marienbruecke, or Mary’s Bridge, is a popular vantage point for photos of Neuschwanstein, the most famous of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century.

According to the initial police investigation, the suspect met the two female tourists, Americans aged 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint.

“The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect,” police spokesman Holger Stabik said. “The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope.”

The assailant then appears to have attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well, prosecutors said. She fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), ending up close to her friend.

Both women were recovered by mountain rescuers. The 21-year-old was flown to a hospital with serious injuries and later died. The 22-year-old remains hospitalized, but is “responsive,” police said.

Authorities haven’t named either of the victims or given any further details.

The suspect, who likewise was not identified, remains in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, prosecutors said, adding it wasn’t clear how long he had been in the country.

The U.S. Embassy in Berlin said it was aware of the incident and the consulate in Munich was in contact with authorities.

“Due to privacy considerations, we are unable to comment further at this time,” the embassy said in a statement.

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• woman killed

Naperville City Council remembers Eva Liu, woman killed in German castle attack

BERLIN (WLS) -- Naperville's City Council held a moment of silence in honor of 21-year-old Eva Liu before their meeting Tuesday.

Liu grew up in the western suburb. She was going to be a software engineer for Microsoft. Now her twin sister and father are back from Germany after arranging for her body to be returned.

Liu's friend, 22-year-old Kelsey Chang has just been released from the hospital. The two recently graduated from the University of Illinois in May.

They were visiting a famous castle in Germany last week, when investigators said a 30-year-old man from Michigan lured them onto a hidden trail and pushed them into a ravine.

Chang fell 165 feet down a steep slope, but survived after being caught by a tree. Liu died at the hospital.

"Eva Liu represented the best of our community. She was a vibrant, intelligent, kind young woman with a bright future," said Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli.

The suspect is now being held on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and attempted sexual assault. He arrived back in the U.S. overnight under heavy police protection.

Donna, a neighbor of the Michigan man, arrested in this attack.

"I'm in shock, mainly because they appear to be a really nice family you know, courteous, friendly, shovels my snow in the winter," she said.

Liu's family is asking for privacy while trying to make unexpected funeral arrangements.

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Gaza aid convoy strike: what happened and who were the victims?

Seven World Central Kitchen workers died after a strike on their vehicle in Deir al-Balah

• Full report: Charities halt Gaza aid after seven workers killed

What do we know about what happened outside the Deir al-Balah warehouse in Gaza?

Seven aid workers trying to deliver much-needed food to Gaza were killed in an Israeli strike in the city of Deir al-Balah on Monday night. The Israeli government confirmed its military had carried out “an unintended strike”, hours after World Central Kitchen (WCK), an international charity that has brought hundreds of tonnes of food aid into Gaza, said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were responsible.

WCK said the workers – three Britons, a Palestinian, a US-Canadian dual citizen, a Pole and an Australian – had been travelling in two armoured cars bearing the charity’s logo, and a “soft-skin vehicle”.

“Despite coordinating movements with the IDF, the convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tonnes of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route,” the charity said in a statement.

Israeli defence sources told Haaretz that the aid workers’ vehicles had been hit three times by missiles fired from a drone because of erroneous suspicions that a terrorist was travelling with the convoy.

Haaretz also reported that some of the passengers left their vehicle after it was hit by the first missile and climbed into another car, which was then hit by a second missile. The third car in the convoy, which approached to pick up the occupants of the second car, was hit by a third missile. The strike killed all of the WCK workers in the convoy.

WCK has paused its operations in the region while it decides on future activities.

Who were the victims?

The Guardian understands two of the three British aid workers to be James Henderson, 33, from Penryn, Cornwall, and John Chapman, 57, who was born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The BBC reported the third Briton as James Kirby.

The Australian government named one of those killed as Zomi Frankcom , a 43-year-old Melbourne-born aid worker. It said it confirmed her death with “overwhelming sadness”, adding that “her tireless work to improve the lives of others should never have cost Ms Frankcom her own”.

Frankcom’s family described her as “a kind, selfless and outstanding human being [who] travelled the world helping others in their time of need”.

The Polish victim was named by the country’s foreign minister as Damian Sobol.

“Our brave compatriot, Damian Sobol from the city of Przemyśl helped those in need in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis is taking place,” Radosław Sikorski said in a video published on X .

“He was killed in an attack for which the Israeli army claimed responsibility,” Sikorski added, saying he would hold a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz.

Saif Issam Abu Taha, 25, was identified by relatives and hospital workers as the Palestinian aid worker killed.

His brother, Ahmed Abu Taha, confirmed he had worked for World Central Kitchen as a driver since the beginning of the year. “He was a dedicated young man,” his brother said.

Another brother described Taha to the New York Times as an enterprising man who spoke good English and had worked in his father’s business.

The last time he saw his brother, he told the newspaper, he and others were so excited to about getting to unload the desperately needed food, it was “like they were going to a wedding.”

On Tuesday, WCK named US-Canada dual citizen Jacob Flickinger as the final member of the group who was killed in the attack.

What is World Central Kitchen and what has it been doing in Gaza?

WCK was founded by a Spanish-American chef, José Andrés, in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake. It has since grown into a global charity that has provided food to refugees at the US border as well as working in Venezuela and Ukraine.

Over the past few weeks, WCK has brought about 600 tonnes of food and aid to northern Gaza using a maritime aid corridor that was opened last month. The charity says it has so far provided Palestinians facing starvation with more than 43m meals that have been delivered by land, air and sea.

How bad is the aid situation for Palestinians in Gaza?

At the end of February, the UN said at least 576,000 people in Gaza – a quarter of its population – were “one step away from famine”. In mid-March, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification – a group that includes the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization – said 1.1 million people, half of Gaza’s population, were facing famine .

Martin Griffiths, the UN’s top relief coordinator, said on X at the time: “The international community should hang its head in shame for failing to stop it … We know that once a famine is declared, it is way too late.”

Aid agencies’ efforts to get humanitarian assistance to where it is most needed have been severely hampered by a combination of logistical obstacles, a breakdown of public order and lengthy bureaucracy imposed by Israel. The number of aid trucks entering the territory by land over the past five months has been far below the 500 a day that entered before the war.

How have people reacted?

In a statement on Tuesday, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said: “Unfortunately over the last day there was a tragic incident of an unintended strike of our forces on innocent people in the Gaza Strip.” He continued: “This happens in wartime. We are thoroughly looking into it … and will do everything to ensure it does not happen again.”

The IDF said it was “conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident”.

Andrés said he was heartbroken by his colleagues’ death and called on the Israeli government to “stop this indiscriminate killing … [and] stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon”.

The British government summoned the Israeli ambassador over the deaths, which the UK’s foreign secretary, David Cameron, said were “completely unacceptable”.

Cameron added: “Israel must urgently explain how this happened and make major changes to ensure safety of aid workers on the ground.”

The Australian foreign minister, Penny Wong, said the death of any aid worker was “outrageous and unacceptable” and said the government was seeking “a thorough and expeditious review” as well as “full accountability for these deaths” from the Israeli government.

The Polish foreign ministry expressed its condolences to Sobol’s family, adding: “Poland does not agree to the lack of compliance with international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers.”

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said American diplomats had already spoken to the Israeli government and urged “a swift, thorough and impartial investigation to understand exactly what happened”.

Canada’s foreign minister, Mélanie Joly, said she had been “horrified” to hear of the deaths, which included a dual Canadian-US citizen.

“Canada expects full accountability for these killings and we will convey this to the Israeli government directly,” she said. “Strikes on humanitarian personnel are absolutely unacceptable.”

Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he was appalled by the deaths and called on the Israeli government to “clarify the circumstances of this brutal attack as soon as possible”.

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Russia-Ukraine latest: NATO considering €100bn package to 'Trump-proof' war effort

NATO foreign ministers are meeting today in Brussels and will discuss long-term support for Ukraine, including a proposal for a €100bn five-year fund. Read all the latest on the war - and submit a question on the conflict for our experts - below.

Wednesday 3 April 2024 21:22, UK

• 'Great risk' of frontlines collapsing as Russia prepares 'big attack'
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• NATO to consider €100bn aid package to 'Trump-proof' aid for Ukraine
• Indian men claim they've been forced to fight for Russia's military in Ukraine
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• Michael Drummond: Is the Russian fleet abandoning Crimea?
• Big picture : What's happening with war?

Ask a question or make a comment

Our comments box is open once again for you to submit a question on the Ukraine war for Sky News military analysts or correspondents.

We'll pick the best one to answer each week.

As NATO foreign ministers meet in Brussels, Sky News has learnt that the British government has no national plan for the defence of the UK or the mobilisation of its people and industry in a war despite renewed threats of conflict, Sky News has learnt.

Officials are now starting to develop a cross-government "national defence plan", it can be revealed.

Dr Keith Dear , a former RAF intelligence officer and former adviser on national security, science and technology to the prime minister, argues that it is reasonable for the public to assume there are detailed plans for any anticipated conflicts.

Read his analysis in full here:

Moscow has denied claims it plans to mobilise 300,000 new troops by the end of June.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the claim as he singed a 10-year security deal with Finland in Kyiv.

Without providng any evidence, MrZelenskyy told a news conference: "I can say that Russia is preparing to mobilise 300,000 military personnel by 1 June." 

Later, in his nightly video address, he said: "We clearly understand what Russia is preparing for, what they want, and what they will be drafting soldiers into their army for." 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Russian news agencies, said the Ukrainian president's assertion was "untrue". 

The foreign secretary has said that NATO has "never been stronger".

Lord Cameron posted a photo of the alliance's foreign ministers posing for a group photograph following a meeting in Brussels on X.

NATO is celebrating 75 years since its foundation this week.

A cargo ship leaving Russia that made an unscheduled stop in Germany is under investigation for carrying cargo in a possible breach of sanctions, German authorities have said.

The Atlantic Navigator II, managed by Canada-based CISN and sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, has been detained in Rostock by German customs. 

On board are 251 containers of birchwood, which is subject to EU sanctions against Russia, according to prosecutors.

"Investigations are under way against the captain of the freighter on initial suspicion of a violation of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act," the Rostock public prosecutor's office said.

The ship is also carrying enriched uranium bound for the US.

Enriched uranium is exempt from EU and American sanctions.

The vessel has been held in Rostock since 4 March after leaving St Petersburg on 7 February.

It had to make the unscheduled stop due to propeller damage, according to city authorities.

Romania's president Klaus Iohannis says he has no intention of withdrawing his bid for NATO secretary general, despite strong support within the alliance for Mark Rutte, the outgoing Dutch prime minister. 

Mr Iohannis officially announced his intention to run for NATO leadership last month. 

He also said he had no plans to seek a different job at a European level. 

Jens Stoltenberg's term in the office is due to come to an end on 1 October after a decade.

His mandate had been renewed four times, twice for the standard four-year term and twice for single years in 2022 and 2023 to keep NATO in safe hands during the war in Ukraine.

The appointment process is unofficial and informal, taking place behind closed-doors, making it difficult for outsiders to know who will get the job.

Mr Rutte is supported by the four NATO members forming the "quartet" - France, Germany, the UK and the US, as well as several other countries.

The Dutchman has also been endorsed by Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas, who had previously been mooted as a potential candidate.

The foreign secretary has told NATO members to spend more on defence.

Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute, the UK's leading defence and security thinktank, as the NATO foreign affairs ministers meeting gets under way, Lord Cameron told the audience: "I never needed reminding or understanding of the vital importance of NATO in our national life.

"And it's been extraordinary having supported it all through its quiet years, years in which some people wondered whether it had a functioning brain, I never lost faith in NATO."

The ex-PM said NATO is "so much stronger today than it has been for years", noting Sweden will be welcomed for the first time as a full participant.

He turned to what is next for the alliance, saying its expansion in recent years is part of its success.

"We have a tyrant in Europe who's trying to redraw borders by force," Lord Cameron said. 

"And there are two choices: you can appease that approach, or you can confront that approach.

"It is undoubtedly the right thing to confront it. And that is what we're doing by giving Ukraine such strong support."

He said that if Ukraine wins the war against Russia, it will mean that "NATO will be strong", but if it loses, "the celebrations will be held mostly in Moscow and of course, in Beijing, and in Tehran, and in North Korea".

That would be a "bleak future" given the risk to NATO countries, and would leave others questioning whether they can trust us as allies.

He appealed to NATO members to spend more money on defence, saying: "I think the success will depend on more and more countries reaching 2% [of GDP spending on defence], or more countries seeing 2% as a floor and not a ceiling."

He also said members need to "win the argument for NATO" with younger generations, making the case that it "allows countries to choose their own future".

You can read more news from Westminster in our  Politics Hub

North Korea and Iran's military support for Russia has "serious global security consequences NATO cannot ignore", according to the alliance's secretary general.

Kim Jong Un's secretive nation has transferred ballistic missiles and other weapons to Moscow, while Tehran has supplied Shahed drones, which have regularly been used to destroy and disrupt infrastructure in Ukraine.

In return, Russia has provided technology and supplies that help their own missile and nuclear capabilities.

The West is increasingly concerned Tehran could also send ballistic missiles to Russia.

"Russia's friends in Asia are vital for continuing this war of aggression," Jens Stoltenberg said as ministers met in Brussels.

He also said China was also "propping up Russia's war economy".

"This has regional and global security consequences," Mr Stoltenberg added.

The French armed forces minister Sebastien Lecornu held talks today with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.

During the course of the meeting, Mr Lecornu reaffirmed France's condemnation of Russia's "war of aggression" in Ukraine, his office said in a statement. 

It was the first call between the two leaders since October 2022, a French defence ministry spokesperson said. 

Mr Lecornu also expressed Paris' solidarity with the victims of the terror attack in Moscow last month, which killed more than 100 people. 

Vladimir Putin has said the attack was carried out by Islamic militants, but suggested it was also to the benefit of Ukraine and that Kyiv may have played a role. 

Ukraine and its Western allies have both denied this.

As we head into the evening, here is a quick rundown of what has been happening so far today. 

NATO foreign ministers are currently in Brussels for talks about how to support Ukraine long-term. 

One of the options on the table is a €100bn package aimed at "Trump-proofing" aid for Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, high-ranking Ukrainian commanders have warned there is a great risk of frontlines collapsing wherever Russia should choose to launch its next attack.

They say there could be another "big attack" by August.

In other news... 

• Oil prices have risen after yesterday's Ukrainian attack on a major Russian refinery;
• Ukraine's foreign minister accused allies of not providing enough air defences;
• Russia claimed NATO has returned to a Cold War mindset;
• Finland and Ukraine have signed a 10-year security agreement.

NATO's secretary-general has said he has spoken to Hungary's prime minister over the latter's concerns about the military alliance's role in Ukraine. 

Hungarian leader Viktor Orban has been a thorn in Ukraine's side, repeatedly attempting to block aid and maintaining close ties with Russia. 

Speaking at the NATO meeting in Brussels, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said: "What we are discussing is not a NATO combat presence in Ukraine. 

"We are discussing how we can coordinate and deliver support from outside Ukraine to Ukraine as NATO allies do."

He said it would be possible to address concerns raised by Hungary and "find a way where we can have consensus".

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