A shocking case of alleged serial assault has come to light in Berlin, with a 68-year-old electrician facing 22 charges of raping unconscious women. Prosecutors claim the suspect filmed his victims, adding an additional layer of distress for those already traumatised by their experiences.
According to investigators, the accused met his victims on online dating platforms and then used a combination of sedatives and alcohol to render them unconscious before carrying out the alleged assaults. Some of the women who have spoken to police reported having no memory of the events in question, only discovering what had happened when they were shown videos of the incidents.
The investigation has uncovered allegations against a total of 58 women, with 10 still unidentified by authorities. Due to the nature of the case, all charges include an infringement of the victim's right to their own image, as per the Berlin public prosecutor's office.
Initial information about the suspect emerged in early 2025, when police in Lower Saxony were investigating similar allegations against a man who has since died. This individual is believed to have been in contact with the Berlin suspect via online chats. A subsequent search of the Berlin man's flat revealed digital files containing videos depicting sexual assaults, which investigators believe were filmed by the suspect.
The case highlights concerns over online safety and the ease with which perpetrators can use technology to commit crimes. It also echoes recent high-profile cases in Germany, including the trial of Gisèle Pelicot, and similar incidents reported globally, such as a student from China sentenced in Munich for similar offences.