An Austrian court sentenced eight Iraqi asylum seekers and refugees on Thursday to between nine and 13 years in prison for the gang rape of a 28-year-old German woman in Vienna more than a year ago, a court spokeswoman said.

The men were found guilty of assaulting the woman in an apartment where two of the men were staying during the 2015/16 New Year celebrations. A ninth accused was acquitted.

The victim, from the northern German state of Lower Saxony and who was visiting a friend in Vienna, was awarded damages of 25,000 euros (£21,500).

The court spokeswoman said both the prosecution and defence had indicated they might appeal the verdict or sentencing.

The nine Iraqis, aged between 21 and 47 years, were arrested in Vienna and two other provinces in summer. All have either applied for, or been granted, asylum.

The case helped fuel public debate over immigration and crime, a central theme of last year's Austrian elections, which saw a far-right candidate come within a whisker of the presidency.

Although detailed statistics are not published, the police have said that in general there has been a rise in petty crime since 2015's big migrant influx but no significant increase in serious crimes like murder and rape.