Days before Olympics, Australian woman 'sexually assaulted' by 5 men in Paris
PTC Web Desk: Just a few days before the beginning of Paris Olympics 2024, an Australian woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by five persons in Paris, the police confirmed. As per reports, the incident took place after midnight on July 20.
As per a CCTV footage, the 25-year-old woman can be seen taking refuge at a kebab shop after the incident. Media reports suggested that she was in a semi nude state. The victim had reportedly spent the night of July 19 at bars and clubs around Moulin Rouge cabaret. It was there that men reportedly approached her. She informed the police that the accused, five in number, looked like African nationals. They sexually assaulted her at around 5 am before she managed to flee and sought shelter at the kebab shop, the Daily Mail reported.
The Paris Games are being overshadowed by a sickening crime against a young Australian woman. The 25-year-old has told police she was raped by a gang of five men before escaping and hiding in a takeaway shop. https://t.co/w5aAcLndCb #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/SFqOi6Fl9r — 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) July 23, 2024
The CCTV footage further shows that the woman was terrified when she ran into the shop and urged employees there to extend help to her. The shop owners and employees immediately reported the matter to the police.
It is learnt that the woman was badly terrified that he was unable to to speak a word of French. She could not give the details on the exact place or situation leading to the attack, according to the Daily Mail report.
The Paris Prosecutor's Office said the allegations made by the woman were being probed and CCTV footage was being looked at, BBC reported. However, no arrests had been made in the matter so far.
Meanwhile, the Australian woman was supposed to return home and had booked a flight for the day after the attack. However, she is now staying put in Paris to help the police with the investigation.
Australia's Olympic team chief Anna Meares was quoted by news agency Reuters "the team was aware of the allegations, and urged athletes to take extra care".
"We don't yet have any feedback from our athletes that they have felt unsafe. We are encouraging them, if they go out of the village, not to go out on their own, not to wear team uniform, just to wear plain clothes," Meares was quoted as saying by Reuters.
- With inputs from agencies
