A man has been arrested in connection with an alleged attempted rape on a train near Paris, following the viral spread of a video that appears to capture the incident. The footage has reignited conversations about women’s safety on public transportation across France.
The alleged victim, identified as 26-year-old Brazilian national Jhordana Dias, reported that the man boarded the train earlier this month, pushed her, and attempted to remove her underwear. Another passenger, alerted by her cries, recorded the event, capturing the man fleeing the train as it arrived at a station.
Reports indicate the arrest occurred on Friday evening in Mantes-la-Jolie, northwest of Paris. The suspect, who was not carrying identification at the time, reportedly identified himself to authorities as a 26-year-old Egyptian national. He is currently being held in custody.
The incident took place on October 15th between the Choisy-le-Roi and Villeneuve-le-Roi train stations, south-east of Paris. The widely shared video shows the suspect, dressed in a tracksuit and cap, as he is confronted by the person filming.
The woman who filmed the incident, known as Marguerite, has been praised for her intervention, which many believe may have prevented a more severe outcome for Ms. Dias. Ms. Dias, who reportedly does not speak French, filed a police report with the assistance of her brother, who translated her statement.
The incident has prompted numerous women to share their personal experiences of harassment on public transport in France. Notably, two other women have reportedly told Le Parisian that they were also victims of the same individual.
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