The Amstetten junior judo club, fully togged out in fighting gear, came down en masse to look at the Fritzl house.

Seven children and their instructor, all in white robes, stared for five minutes before wandering off.

The fascination isn't dying down in local community.

But Austrians are getting suspicious of what the world is saying about them.

Reports have reached Amstetten of newspapers, particularly in Belgium and Poland, questioning why Austria seems to have such a problem with children being locked up in cellars.

Criticism from Belgium is especially hard to take - everyone in Europe remembers the appalling mistakes in the Marc Dutroux affair.

Yes, they say here, social workers could have done more but if an evil and meticulous criminal mind is intent on such terrible acts, what can anyone do to stop him?

The bad news for local people is that the news crews are now being joined by the documentary makers and current affairs teams from across Europe.

Everyone is looking for the story behind the story, THE explanation of the worst crime this country has ever seen.

The man from the council can never have experienced quite so much worldwide interest in the details of local planning regulations.

Some won't complain: the coffee in the Fritzls' local bakery has gone up by 20 cents a cup.

But, in a story which has enough victims already, the town of Amstetten could end up being another one.

Comments

[joanna, portugal May 6, 2008 2:46:59 PM]

A.Moss Lancs
that's so true. now the nuclear family has replaced the extended family (BAD idea) our societies are based on anonymity - few are interested in their neighbours or even know their names. there is an area in lisbon where everybody knows everybody and know exactly who the 'rotten' families are and keep an eye on them. that's how it should be. true community friendship.

[A Moss Lancs UK May 4, 2008 6:26:04 PM]

To say that this sickens me is an understatement!

I would like to imagine that the two cases in Austria that I have recently heard about are unique, but I very much doubt it, We need to be looking at our neighbours the fact that we do not speak to the people on our streets anymore gives these type of people a better chance of getting away with it. This could be happening in the UK, America or anywhere else. I pray that the people in this case can get over this ordeal the best they can.

[emma burton East sussex May 1, 2008 8:26:18 PM]

I have found this story very hard to believe it has shocked me a great deal! how could noone relise what that man was doing? where nthere any noises? if fritz did know then she is just as much to blamne as he is!! a very sickened story

[Silva May 1, 2008 12:04:50 PM]

i wanted to know how the daughter came out? did the police went to cellar after details emerged and rescued the daughter? or did he let the daughter go out to police? if he did allowed the daughter to go out, how come the mother didn't see her first?

[Khalid May 1, 2008 10:34:48 AM]

Sir
With all due respect to the people of Austria & Europe, these are indeed times of disbelief, however, in contrast to events within Portugal most recent, the fact that this parent kept his daughter safe is one such positive, however not in the slightest a matter to be proud of.
It sickens the mind to think that not only did this monster father his daughters' children, but led a life of riley thereafter.
Today, Sky viewers saw televised pictures of another hapless couple wandering along as if nothing was wrong with their emotive parental instincts and I urge the EU parliament to not only sentence these monsters to life (or death as pleded) but to put an end to this most perverse of childminding activity that continually goes without punishment thus making a mockery of all decent folk.
Austria should remain proud of its culture, as it is not Austria at fault but one or two perverse individuals.
In the case of the latter, [Silence Must be Heard] so we can concentrate on real [Enigma] and not showmanship!

[Sandra Ryan. Spain. May 1, 2008 10:00:44 AM]

What a cruel and vicious man he must be.

To tell them that they would be gassed if they tried to escape. I think he should be put into his own cellar and left to rot.

I do hope these children and their mother are able eventually to have some happiness in their lives.

[Tom May 1, 2008 8:30:43 AM]

15 Years for what this monster has done! He should spend the rest of his life in a small cell with no windows, being raped daily. "an eye for an eye"

[Deal Kent May 1, 2008 2:08:58 AM]

When and how was the chamber made? Did nobody notice all that soil and rubble coming from the house? It must have taken a lot of time and considerable effort not to mention planning and all this done by one person?

[Noelle, South Africa May 1, 2008 12:06:38 AM]

Did Fritzl and his wife Rosemarie have any other children together?

[Mogens Alstrup, Sweden Apr 30, 2008 6:24:23 PM]

I are thinking about the foot, I had been in Austria for holiday and it was not easy to found a foot market i found one little SPAR shop but no more how cut Fritz getting all that foot for a little family with no question? "sorry for my English"

[London Apr 30, 2008 5:33:11 AM]

A bit question the mother’s innocence because the family finance spending was not balanced, a door not allowed to access for half century, a sudden disappear of her husband (not to Pub )..etc

Too many clues...