Twitter in Iceland goes crazy over rape case
The Reykjavik Metropolitan Police are under harsh criticism after they released two men suspected of rape from custody. The hashtag #almannahagsmunir (public interest) is trending on Twitter where citizens are posting their outrage at this decision.
The Reykjavik Metropolitan Police have simply responded that they are unable to give further information on a case regarding two men suspected of two brutal rapes which according to Fréttablaðið sources occurred in an apartment located in the Hlíðar district near central Reykjavik.
Fréttablaðið reported this morning that according to "reliable sources" the apartment was fitted with hooks, chains, whips and other items of torture. Fréttablaðið says that one of the victims was hung from the ceiling on hooks while she was attacked and also that she was drugged by the suspects.
Police stated that there had not been reason to demand that the men remain in custody on grounds of investigation interests. They also stated that the investigation is going well.
Speaking to mbl.is, deputy chief of police in Reykjavik, Árni Þór Sigmundsson says that two separate rape cases are being investigated and that they are connected to the same apartment. One of the men is a suspect in both cases and the other one in one of the cases. "The men were arrested and were in police custody for 24 hours and we conducted a search of their homes. It was not believed that there was reason to demand prolonged custody for the interests of the investigation. The men were released."
Asked whether the information in today's edition of Fréttablaðið is true, Sigmundsson responded that this information was not from the Reykjavik Metropolitan Police. However, he did not decline the story. Neither of the suspects has a previous criminal history.
Twitter and Facebook are inundated with comments from people to the Reykjavik Metropolitan Police. "If the general public is not endangered by these men, then who is dangerous enough to be in custody? Isn't it a matter of public interest that women should be safe in Reykjavik?" writes one person.
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