Afghan man suspected of raping and killing girl, 13, in Austria arrested in UK

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An Afghan man suspected of raping and killing a 13-year-old girl in Austria has been arrested in the UK and faces extradition.

Rasuili Zubaidullah, 22, entered the UK on a boat of refugees and claimed asylum using a fake name, only weeks after the girl was found dead in Vienna.

He was housed at a hotel in Whitechapel, east London, for two weeks until Austrian police tipped off authorities in the UK.

Austria
Image:
Flowers and candles were left for the 13-year-old victim, known as Leonie

Officers from the National Extradition Unit arrested him on 29 July, and he now faces extradition from the UK.

Zubaidullah is accused of raping and killing a 13-year-old girl, whose body was found rolled up in a carpet in Vienna on 26 June.

The girl, who is known only by her first name Leonie, was drugged, gang-raped, and then suffocated.

Austrian police launched a manhunt for a group of Afghan refugees they believe are responsible, and have arrested three other men.

More on Austria

Zubaidullah is thought to have provided Border Force officials in Kent with a fake name when he arrived in the UK on 18 July.

Police at the scene in Austria
Image:
Police at the scene in Austria

After his arrest, he appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court via video link from Wandsworth prison on 3 September.

He is scheduled to appear in court on 1 October and will face a full extradition hearing in January.

Sky News has contacted the National Extradition Unit for comment.

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