By Greg Milam, Sky News Europe correspondent
A well-respected international magazine is chasing a new line on the Josef Fritzl story: "This is Hitler's backyard," their reporter tells me.
True, one of the 20th century's most notorious figures was born an hour away from Amstetten.
But, apart from a ghoulish 'Oh, really?' factor, what's that got to do with modern day events? Everyone is trying hard to find something new to say about what Fritzl has been doing for 24 years.
Some are getting desperate: I have been interviewed by journalists from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Slovenia and Iran (Iran??). And I'm only covering the story!
The residents of this town, squeezed between the Danube and the Alps, have had it worse. Wave after wave of media keeps on coming, hounding them down the streets. The ones with even the vaguest knowledge of the Fritzl family have realised there is money to be made out of this story.
Rumours also abound about how much news agencies will be willing to pay for that first picture of Elisabeth and her three cellar children.
Thousands of euros are being offered and authorities are desperate that that picture is never taken. They believe it would severely damage their recovery.
Security has been beefed up around the clinic where they're being treated. How long though before we're involved in a debate about the rights and wrongs of publishing THAT picture?
Josef is a monster , he must be put in a tiny room, in dark ,in cold, till his end comes, best to the rest family. The wife did not know??? thats not true. she had time to see ,when he is away on hoilday.
Posted by: pauline scifo malta May 9, 2008 5:13:45 AM
So, critics fro journalists? Of course they want to pay and have that picture of Elisabeth , of the Bunker and so on, you know why? because we want to see it! because we sponser that!If you are here, comenting on this, is because yopu also are interested in knowing about it. And yes, why not relate Hitler with this guy? Is possible that the terror that happened stills influence some behaviors. And again dont forget that Hitler couldnt heve done it alone.Who let jews be killed and discriminate? their own neighbers for God sake!
Posted by: ana Portugal May 8, 2008 8:36:20 AM
Interresting you say that Rob? So what do you call the 2 murders over the bank Holidays (one in chelsea one in reading) and the mad guy with a gun in slough?
May I suggest that rather than comment on europe's depavity, you used your time better thinking of what is in your own back garden, what with all the young violence, binge drinking, teen pregnancy just to name a few problems I would say there is a lot to think about!
Posted by: Sally, Paris May 7, 2008 3:42:36 PM
Always the same isn't it, journalists hounding for that picture that will bring in the money and the big story, never mind about the poor girl and her children who have suffered so awfully for 24 years. I havn't been able to sleep properly these last few days for thinking about it. Have the media no heart?
Posted by: M Herman May 6, 2008 1:11:03 AM
This will all end with crying
Posted by: Shinderpal Jandu May 5, 2008 9:59:38 PM
Yes Barry and what Islamic terrorists are doing to US soldiers and civilians!, not just in Iraq.
Europe is drowning under its own depravity! Britain is well out of it.
Posted by: Rob, UK May 5, 2008 4:22:49 AM
well its not only about hitler or somebody else. this can appear everywhere:, in Iraq (lets remember the stories what US soldiers are doing with prisoners and no guilty people found and punished, ( and will not be ..... ) in other countries etc ..... Well there is some genes of total control and power and destruction exist in every human, may be nations etc, and pity that such people aimed there energy at children, leading society to being more perverts and to more decline
EUROPE is in DECLINE , more and more perverts appear every day.......and 70 % of them on media, but we dont care and we should not unnless this people make us harm... only one way, of treatment .... erasing this people from this hostile word to make it less hostile.. this is only one treatment exist, killing them or total isolation, but if isolation who will pay for isolation of say 100 millions of such perverts ????? EUROPE is downing
Posted by: barry ukraine May 3, 2008 7:18:34 AM