Shock in the Gelnhausen outdoor pool: girls victims of sexual assault!

Shock in the Gelnhausen outdoor pool: girls victims of sexual assault!

On June 22, 2025, a shocking incident occurred in the Barbarossa outdoor swimming pool in Gelnhausen, Hesse, which caused a stir across the country. Several girls between the ages of 11 and 17 are said to have been sexually harassed in this outdoor pool. According to the current investigation, the police believe that at least eight girls were affected, although nine were originally assumed. Mayor Christian Litzinger (CDU) provided the girls affected with comprehensive support in order to clarify these stressful events and to support them. “We will do everything we can to help the victims,” emphasized Litzinger.

In this context, the Hanau public prosecutor's office has initiated an investigation into sexual harassment. As the Tagesschau reports, the police have recorded the personal details of four Syrian men between the ages of 18 and 28 who are considered suspects. The circumstances of another man who is said to have left the outdoor pool are still unclear.

Reactions and demands

Hesse's Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) is calling for a quick investigation and clear consequences for those responsible. In a clear statement, Poseck said that asylum seekers who commit sexual offenses have no right to stay in Germany. This was also reflected in the demands of the Interior Ministers' Conference, which supported a tough crackdown and the possibility of deporting Syrians who had committed crimes. District Administrator Thorsten Stolz (SPD) agreed with this demand and emphasized the need to repatriate the suspects if the allegations were confirmed.

However, there were also critical voices about the reaction of the swimming pool staff, who initially did not offer the girls affected the necessary support. This situation has raised questions about safety at the pools. Interestingly, Mayor Litzinger pointed out that he sees no safety problems at the Barbarossa outdoor pool, even though this is the first incident of its kind with a ban on swimming and indoor swimming this year. In the previous year there were a total of four incidents without a sexual background.

Statistics and background

According to information from Merkur, there were a total of 74 crimes against sexual self-determination in Hesse's swimming pools last year, with a remarkable clearance rate of 82 percent. What is particularly striking is that of the 57 suspects identified, 55 were male, and the proportion of non-German suspects was around 60%. These statistics were also mentioned in the context of the nationwide recording of 423 sexual crimes in swimming pools last year. The majority of the suspects were also male, although the proportion of non-German suspects was significantly high.

While the investigation continues, various social voices are appealing to the public to take a differentiated view of the situation and not to generally stir up prejudices against people with a migrant background. With this perspective, both politicians and experts, such as the President of the Federal Association of German Swimming Masters, Peter Harzheim, want to approach the discussion about safety and supervision in swimming pools objectively, while the debate about the necessary supply of skilled workers must be pushed forward, especially in such sensitive areas.