Mass sexual harassment at swimming pool in Germany: eight girls assaulted

At least eight girls as young as 11 were sexually assaulted in a public swimming pool in Hesse, Germany.

Police arrested four suspects aged 18 to 28 who are reportedly Syrian nationals.

The heinous attacks occurred last Sunday at the Barbarossabad swimming pool, with the nationality of those arrested confirmed by the Southeast Hesse Police Headquarters to German newspaper Bild.

Several girls are said to have reported to pool staff that they had been assaulted by a group of men in the whirlpool area.

Two of the men arrested are reportedly related.

Criminal charges have since been filed against all of the suspects, who have also been banned from the pool following the harrowing incident.

Five young girls initially came forward to report the incidents, but as the assaults became public knowledge, more bravely came forward.

The victims also testified that they had been sexually harassed.

A total of eight girls aged just 11 to 16 were victims of sexual assault at the pool.

It currently cannot be ruled out that other girls or women were affected, reports claim.

It comes after a man was jailed for 11 years after sexually assaulting a teen girl at a UK public swimming pool.

The horrific assault happened after he watched her showering in the changing rooms.

A court heard the teen had been caused "severe psychological harm" and suffered "vivid nightmares" from the memories of what happened, according to MEN Media.

The "dreadful impact" of what happened meant that the smell of chlorine makes her tense to this day.

Tomasz Figura, 46, of Cave Street, off Beverley Road, Hull, denied offences of assault by penetration, sexual assault and voyeurism.

But he was convicted by a jury after a trial at Hull Crown Court on April 8.

He failed to attend for sentencing at Grimsby Crown court on May 9 as he admitted he was "drunk".

Three days later he was was arrested for also failing to attend at Hull Crown Court and was remanded in custody.

Judge Alexander Menary said of the victim: "The dreadful impact on her was apparent at trial.

"There was severe psychological harm here.

"She is still impacted by what happened to her."

Figura was jailed for 11 years and was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will have to register as a sex offender for life.