A youth gang in Vienna that was recently acquitted of charges relating to the alleged abuse of a 12-year-old girl is now facing new and serious accusations involving another child victim.
According to the Vienna public prosecutor’s office, seven of the young men aged between 16 and 21 are under investigation for allegedly raping and humiliating a girl of the same age group.
Prosecutor Judith Ziska confirmed the developments, telling the Bild newspaper, “I can confirm that there is another investigation involving some of the same accused.”
The new case centers on an alleged incident in Antonsplatz, where the youths are accused of luring a 12-year-old girl into a stairwell by promising her a “surprise” before forcing her to perform oral sex. Prosecutors say the group also subjected her to bullying and degrading treatment, including kicking, insulting, and spitting water on her. They reportedly photographed her afterwards and circulated the images, joking to others that the liquid was semen. According to Austrian broadcaster OE24, the girl came forward after learning of the other victims’ cases.
The allegations follow a controversial acquittal last week, when several of the teenagers were cleared by the Vienna Regional Court of sexually abusing another 12-year-old girl in 2023. That girl told investigators she had been pressured into sex in parks, stairwells, hotel rooms, and apartments across the city’s Favoriten district after first meeting one defendant on Snapchat. She said she complied out of fear of the gang’s numerical dominance and intimidation, having also been shown violent videos.
In one incident, prosecutors claimed an 18-year-old defendant booked a hotel room where as many as twelve teenagers, aged 13 to 16, allegedly abused her. The assaults reportedly ended only after the girl’s mother forbade her from leaving the family apartment.
Despite the graphic allegations, the defendants were acquitted after the court raised doubts about the girl’s testimony. Judges cited inconsistencies, including her initial failure to report coercion, her having presented ID and claiming to be older, and her appearance, which led the court to conclude it was unclear whether the defendants knew she was underage. The charge of aggravated sexual abuse of minors was ultimately dropped.
At the time of the alleged offenses, most of the defendants were between 14 and 20 years old, meaning nine were considered juveniles and therefore faced lesser charges under Austrian law. Three others were under the age of criminal responsibility and could not be prosecuted at all.
The majority of the accused are not Austrian citizens, with backgrounds from Macedonia, Syria, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Italy. One is an Austrian with a migration background.
Prosecutors have appealed the acquittal to the Supreme Court. A forensic expert from the State Criminal Police Office has reportedly identified a modus operandi among the gang, revealing through phone data that they repeatedly rented rooms and arranged situations in which minors were forced into sex acts.
Kronen Zeitung reported politicians’ responses to the verdict earlier this week, citing Justice Minister Anna Sporrer as expressing sympathy for the young girl and her family and stating she understands “the great consternation and public interest in this case.”
“Strengthening sexual self-determination and the effective protection of women and girls against violence are my top priorities,” she added.
Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner was more forthright. She said she “no longer understands the world,” describing the acquittals as “wrong as a mother and politician.”
The Austrian government is now seeking to amend the law on consent, with Sporrer announcing her intention for an “Only yes means yes” clause, meaning only explicit consent can justify sexual intercourse.
