How investigations into an international network of rapists led to the "Pelicot case" in Lower Austria

In February last year, police knocked on the door of a house in the district of Bruck an der Leitha, Austria. The residents were a couple in their early forties and their children. The woman was on sick leave, while her partner worked from home. According to lawyer Sonja Aziz, who represents the victim, the couple had led an “idyllic life” and maintained a “harmonious relationship.” When the officers arrived, the woman initially thought there was a mistake. They informed her of a search warrant, separated the couple physically, and confronted the woman with photographs showing her being sexually assaulted while unconscious, apparently recorded by her partner. The man was arrested, marking the last time she saw him. The case drew attention from the State Criminal Police Office of Lower Austria after German authorities became aware of it. This followed years of research conducted by two German journalists, Isabell Beer and Isabel Ströh from the NDR, who uncovered an international network of perpetrators engaging in sexual violence. Their investigation revealed men exchanging information on public platforms about how to sedate women unnoticed and commit sexual assault, often sharing videos of these acts. The victims, according to the men, were their spouses, girlfriends, mothers, and daughters. Their research began with an inquiry into pornographic websites, where they discovered videos depicting women appearing unconscious. This prompted the question: Were these real recordings of sexual assaults against unconscious women? The journalists joined Telegram groups anonymously. One group had over 200 members, later expanding to more than 73,000. They observed planning and execution of serious sexual offenses, which led them to conclude that action was necessary. They sent multiple requests to law enforcement agencies, providing links to specific cases and groups. One such case involved a man from Lower Saxony who allegedly posted videos of his wife being sexually assaulted while unconscious since 2006. He openly stated that she was unaware of the abuse. His videos attracted millions of views on pornography sites. In late 2024, the journalists found another video from the same user and again contacted the police in Hamburg. It wasn’t until then that investigations were initiated, over a year after the initial request. During this period, the woman continued to be drugged and assaulted by her partner. The lack of prompt response from authorities frustrated Beer and Ströh. “For a long time, the issue was not taken seriously,” Beer remarked. “Women are sometimes in acute danger.” She believes that understanding has finally come. Since April, police authorities from nine countries, under German and British leadership, have been targeting these networks through Operation “Medusa.” According to Europol, during a June operation, 156 potential victims and offenders were identified. However, Austria does not participate in this initiative. Prior to Operation “Medusa,” investigators already established that the perpetrator from Lower Saxony communicated with the man from Lower Austria. He shared tips on how to drug and sexually assault his girlfriend and sent him materials. This connection highlights the broader scope of the network and its transnational nature. The ongoing efforts aim to dismantle these structures, though challenges remain in identifying all participants and ensuring justice for the victims.