Alarm signal from Gelnhausen: Sexual harassment in the outdoor pool exposed!

Alarm signal from Gelnhausen: Sexual harassment in the outdoor pool exposed!

In Gelnhausen, a tranquil town in the Main-Kinzig district, the Barbarossa outdoor swimming pool has been making headlines recently, and for good reasons. Reports of alleged sexual harassment against eight girls between the ages of 11 and 16 are causing unrest among visitors and the population. These incidents, which occurred on June 22, 2025, not only shook bathers' sense of security, but also brought the city administration and relevant authorities to the scene. Loud World The investigation has now reached the public prosecutor's office, which will now take further steps.

The details of the incident are alarming. Four Syrian men, aged between 18 and 28, are suspected of sexually harassing several girls. A 12-year-old visitor even said that she felt unsafe and didn't want to stop alone. These fears were shared by the mothers of the girls affected, who spoke to their daughters about important protective measures, such as not going to the swimming pool alone. A bather at the scene also reported that the police took the suspects away immediately after the incidents and had previously heard of similar events in the outdoor pool.

The investigation and security situation

The investigation is in full swing. The State Criminal Police Office (LKA) in Wiesbaden registered a total of 152 crimes against sexual self-determination in Hessian swimming pools in 2022 and 2023, with a clearance rate of 82 percent. The majority of the suspects were male and around 60 percent were not part of the German population. These statistics make it clear that the issue is not isolated but is part of a larger trend, which, given the recent incidents in Gelnhausen, sheds a worrying light on swimming pool safety. Loud Statista There has been an increase in such crimes in swimming pools between 2019 and 2022, increasing the need for security measures.

The city administration is initially reluctant and has not yet issued an official statement on the incidents. Mayor Christian Litzinger and the head of the Barbarossabad, Nils Tischer, emphasize that the current case does not indicate a fundamental safety problem in the pool. Tischer emphasizes the importance of bathers reporting attacks and contacting staff directly. However, the ban that has now been imposed on the suspects shows that the city is not remaining idle.

Calls for better security measures

In view of the events, Hesse's Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) has called for a rapid and comprehensive investigation. These events come at a time when safety in public pools is under greater scrutiny than ever. The Federal Association of German Swimming Masters (BDS) also warns of an acute shortage of personnel that could endanger safety in swimming pools. BDS President Peter Harzheim points out that hot weather, among other things, often leads to an increase in problems.

The incidents in Gelnhausen are a wake-up call for those responsible to rethink and improve safety standards in swimming pools. The girls affected and their families deserve not only protection, but also the support of the community to ensure that every visit to the outdoor pool is a pleasure and not a source of fear and anxiety. In the coming period, it will be crucial how the city and the authorities respond to these problems.