German arrested over US teen's suicide, prosecutors say

German police arrested an 18-year-old in Hamburg after prosecutors said he was linked to online abuse that preceded a 14-year-old girl's suicide in the US state of Indiana.

The Hamburg public prosecutor's office said Friday that the suspect was arrested Thursday after information from the FBI. Prosecutors accused him of being the indirect perpetrator of murder and grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutors said the suspect was linked to an online group called Nefarious Maniac Kult, or NMK, described as part of a wider network known by the labels 764 or COM.

They alleged that, between September and October, the suspect used Discord to pressure the girl to cut herself and write NMK on a wall in her own blood, and to send him videos of the acts. Prosecutors said she hanged herself days later.

The suspect allegedly sought a video recording of her death to gain status in the group or secure entry to it.

German prosecutors also said Friday that a separate alleged 17-year-old NMK member, arrested a year ago, should be sent to trial over accusations involving adolescents in Australia, Canada, Sweden and the United States.