A shocking incident in Herford, Germany, has led to the arrest of seven suspects, including two Iraqi nationals, in connection with the gang rape of an 18-year-old woman. Allegedly drugged with knock-out drops, the victim was assaulted multiple times in a parking lot, prompting widespread outrage and raising urgent questions about safety in public spaces. With suspects aged between 18 and 21 and the involvement of multiple nationalities, this case is part of a troubling trend in North Rhine-Westphalia, where authorities report a significant number of gang rape incidents. As police investigate further, including the use of surveillance footage, the community grapples with the implications of this violent crime.
RE: Seven suspects were allegedly involved in gang-raping an 18-year-old woman in the city of Herford in the German state of North Rheine-Westphalia, according to a public prosecutor in Bielefeld. The woman is said to have been drugged with knock-out drops and raped multiple times in a parking lot
There are two Iraqi nationals involved, one German-Syrian, and four others who have German citizenship. The German citizens may have a migration background but Germany does not release such data. One of the suspects is said to be a girl as well. The seven suspects range between 18 and 21 years old.
The two Iraqis are considered the main suspects in the attacks and are currently in custody, according to German newspaper NW. The incident occurred on Aug. 24 inside the parking lot of a fast food restaurant, with the suspects allegedly raping the knocked-out girl inside a parked vehicle.
Police are investigating the use of knock-out drugs, which were said to have been used on the girl inside the GoParc dance hall, which is located in the same parking lot. Prosecutors say they have surveillance video of the incident.
GoParc Managing Director Lukas Kuhlmann told Bild newspaper: “It is terrible what happened, but our disco bears no responsibility. At the moment, I cannot even say for sure whether the victim and perpetrator were even guests at our club. I immediately made all the video material available to the police and of course I am happy to help solve this crime.”
A number of houses have been searched in the Minden-Lübecke district, including in Hille and Bad Oeynhausen. All the suspects’ cell phones have also been seized, according to Radio Harford.
This story broke the same week that an Iranian refugee was raped by four other Iranian men, with this gang rape also happening in the state of North Rheine-Westphalia. Disturbing statistics also show that half of all suspects involved in gang rapes in the state are foreigners, while at least another quarter are German citizens with foreign first names.
