Teen thrown into witches' cauldron injured

A woman at a carnival parade in southern Germany has been thrown into a cauldron of hot water, severely injuring herself.

A woman has suffered serious burns when she was thrown into a witches' cauldron at a carnival celebration in south-western Germany.

The woman, 18, landed up to her knees in hot water during the incident in the town of Eppingen on Saturday. Her legs were badly scalded and she was taken to a specialist clinic for treatment, a police spokesman told dpa on Monday.

Police said they were investigating six people for causing serious bodily harm and failure to assist a person in danger.

The cauldron full of scalding hot water was bubbling away over an open fire on a cart that was being pulled by several people. They did not stop to help her after the incident, the police spokesman said.

Some 2,000 revellers had dressed as witches for an annual "witches' procession" organised by a local club as part of the regional Fasnet carnival tradition.

Dating back to the 13th century, Fasnet focuses on witches and devils in elaborate costumes, often with ghoulish, hand-carved wooden masks.

Eppingen's witches' club, Hexenzunft Eppingen, has been organising its own annual processions since 2003.