A 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped at a swimming pool in Braunschweig. The pool manager has now spoken out about the incident as investigations continue.
The Braunschweig Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating a 15-year-old Syrian boy on suspicion of raping a 12-year-old girl at a swimming pool. The girl was reportedly sexually assaulted in the water, and the crime allegedly took place in a changing room. Tobias Groß, the managing director of Stadtbad Braunschweig Sport und Freizeit GmbH, which operates the pool, has commented on the situation.
Pool manager expresses shock and plans action
Speaking to Braunschweiger Zeitung, Groß expressed deep concern about the incident but emphasized that such a severe sexual assault had never occurred at the pool before. “I am not aware of any comparable sexual assault,” he stated.
Groß explained that after receiving a tip on the day of the incident, the pool staff immediately alerted the police, who arrived quickly to handle the situation. As of now, the pool management has not taken direct action against the alleged perpetrator because they do not yet have his personal information. However, Groß confirmed, “We will certainly issue an indefinite ban from the premises as soon as we receive the necessary details.”
Groß added that the daily operation of the pool had not been impacted by the incident, as the facility already maintains high safety standards. “No additional measures were implemented after the incident, as our standards are already very high. There are always enough staff patrolling the entire facility, especially during peak times,” he said. However, he acknowledged, “As regrettable as it is, such incidents in public spaces can never be completely ruled out.”
Braunschweig pool: generally a peaceful place
Overall, the Braunschweig swimming pool is typically a calm and peaceful place, according to Groß. “We issue about two to four bans per year, usually due to misconduct like fights, insults, or alcohol consumption,” he noted.
The Braunschweiger Zeitung was the first to report on the case. The Public Prosecutor’s Office later confirmed to t-online that investigations are ongoing. “The further details, particularly the exact sequence of events, are part of the ongoing investigation. DNA tests are still pending,” stated Hans Christian Wolters, a spokesperson for the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor’s Office, earlier this week. He added that the investigation is “still in its early stages.”
