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Scandal in the outdoor pool: Mayor defends himself against defamation!
After sexual assaults in the Gelnhausen outdoor pool, Mayor Litzinger criticized the reporting and threatened legal action.
Scandal in the outdoor pool: Mayor defends himself against defamation!
Things are simmering in Gelnhausen: After alleged sexual assaults in the local outdoor swimming pool, Mayor Christian Litzinger has experienced strong backlash from WELT's reporting. Litzinger speaks of a devastating misunderstanding that culminated in legal action. Not only has he been heavily criticized in his role as mayor, but it appears he has even faced death threats.
Particular attention is paid to the incidents that occurred on June 22 in Barbarossabad, where several girls, aged 11 to 16, reported being assaulted by four young men. These perpetrators are Syrian nationals between 18 and 28 years old. In an interview after the incidents, Litzinger explained how important it was to him to clarify the situation and that measures had already been taken to support law enforcement.
Legal steps against the WELT
Mayor Litzinger issued a warning against Axel Springer Verlag on July 3, 2025. The reason? Defamatory representations in reports from WELT.de. Among other things, they used the mayor's quote in which he talked about “high temperatures”. This sentence, originally taken from a different context, gave the impression that Litzinger wanted to trivialize the serious attacks.
Litzinger emphasizes that the sentence was intended in the context of previous verbal arguments and not the current sexual assault. His statement from an interview on June 29, in which he described the incidents as worrying and praised the police's quick response, was also taken out of context.
Political debate and community support
Litzinger receives solidarity from other mayors who are also concerned about the development. The AfD parliamentary group in the state parliament has already requested a special session and submitted an urgent report request to the state government. The discussion surrounding the nationality of the alleged perpetrators has sparked a political debate that reaches up to the highest levels.
An analysis of rape and sexual assault in Germany published by the Federal Criminal Police Office shows that the issue is strongly present in society. According to a Statista survey between 2014 and 2024, dealing with assaults is a sensitive topic that repeatedly makes headlines. This environment appears to be exacerbating citizens' ongoing concerns.
It is clear to Litzinger that he bears responsibility for clearing up these incidents. The legal action he is taking against the reporting is intended not only to clear his name, but also to reassure concerned citizens and emphasize that such attacks are not trivial. “I’m not good at downplaying things like that,” Litzinger said.
Given the current situation, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop and whether Litzinger and his colleagues can move forward with dealing with the incidents. The entire community hopes that the authorities in Gelnhausen will act quickly and fairly.