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Germany 'exorcism' death: Five S Koreans held in Frankfurt | Germany 'exorcism' death: Five S Koreans held in Frankfurt |
(1 day later) | |
German police have arrested five relatives of a South Korean woman who died in an apparent exorcism ritual, prosecutors say. | |
The 41-year-old woman was found dead in a Frankfurt hotel room after being gagged and severely beaten. | The 41-year-old woman was found dead in a Frankfurt hotel room after being gagged and severely beaten. |
Chief prosecutor Nadja Niesen said the family members wanted to "drive out a demon" they believed had possessed her. | Chief prosecutor Nadja Niesen said the family members wanted to "drive out a demon" they believed had possessed her. |
Police later discovered another suspected victim, a badly injured woman, in the town of Sulzbach. | Police later discovered another suspected victim, a badly injured woman, in the town of Sulzbach. |
She was found suffering hypothermia and dehydration in the garage of a house the group had rented in the town west of Frankfurt, according to reports. | She was found suffering hypothermia and dehydration in the garage of a house the group had rented in the town west of Frankfurt, according to reports. |
Among the five South Koreans arrested on suspicion of murder was the woman's 15-year-old son, who investigators believe may have taken part in the violence. | Among the five South Koreans arrested on suspicion of murder was the woman's 15-year-old son, who investigators believe may have taken part in the violence. |
A 44-year-old woman was also being held with her 21-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter, and another boy of 15. | A 44-year-old woman was also being held with her 21-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter, and another boy of 15. |
The 41-year-old woman had been severely beaten in her chest and stomach. A towel and a cloth-covered coat hanger had been pushed into her mouth to stifle her screams. | The 41-year-old woman had been severely beaten in her chest and stomach. A towel and a cloth-covered coat hanger had been pushed into her mouth to stifle her screams. |
The chief prosecutor said the victim had been subjected to an ordeal that lasted at least two hours. "I've never come across anything like it," she said. | The chief prosecutor said the victim had been subjected to an ordeal that lasted at least two hours. "I've never come across anything like it," she said. |
The Associated Press reported that the police had been alerted by a Catholic priest, but the German news agency DPA said it was unclear who had found the dead victim at the Frankfurt InterContinental hotel. | The Associated Press reported that the police had been alerted by a Catholic priest, but the German news agency DPA said it was unclear who had found the dead victim at the Frankfurt InterContinental hotel. |
DPA said investigators did not know which religious group the suspects belonged to. It said the five suspects had arrived in Frankfurt about six weeks earlier. | DPA said investigators did not know which religious group the suspects belonged to. It said the five suspects had arrived in Frankfurt about six weeks earlier. |
Frankfurt lies in the Catholic diocese of Limburg and officials there said exorcism only ever took place under very strict rules and supervision, and with the bishop's permission. | Frankfurt lies in the Catholic diocese of Limburg and officials there said exorcism only ever took place under very strict rules and supervision, and with the bishop's permission. |
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