A young woman was reportedly assaulted on a Paris train and came under a sexual attack before a courageous passenger rushed to her aid upon hearing her distress calls.
The incident, captured in a distressing video, involved Jhordana Dias, a 26-year-old Brazilian national, crying out for help as her alleged assailant gestured towards the intervening woman before fleeing when the train halted. The footage of Jhordana’s alarming cries incited national outrage after being released by French newspaper Le Parisien.
The purported assault occurred on the morning of October 16 between Choisy-le-Roi and Villeneuve-le-Roi stations on Line C of the Réseau Express Régional (RER) train.
The man reportedly noticed Jhordana from the platform, boarded the carriage just as the doors were closing, and found her alone. Recalling the incident to BBC News Brasil, Jhordana expressed her fear upon seeing him approach, sensing an imminent attack.
Allegedly, the suspect sat beside her and initiated a violent assault, with Jhordana enduring an attempted rape. She recounted her struggle, saying, “He forcibly removed my pants. I resisted throughout, but he persisted in pushing me onto the seat.”
“He began kissing me. As I did not reciprocate, he bit my mouth, scratched my face, slapped my ear, leaving me in a state of shock.”
Her cries prompted a courageous woman in another compartment to step in. This passenger filmed the suspect with her phone, leading to his eventual escape.
Jhordana quickly contacted her brother, Cicero Junior, who had been residing in France for six years. He informed CNN Brasil that the attack had left his sister, a recent arrival in the country, fighting for her life.
Upon Cicero’s arrival at the station 15 minutes later, the police had been alerted by the passenger who intervened, but the suspect had already fled. Cicero mentioned to BBC News Brasil that, despite initial police assistance, they later felt neglected.
Although a forensic examination was scheduled for October 29, Jhordana and her brother feared that her injuries would have healed by then, opting instead for a private doctor’s assessment. Jhordana described her injuries, stating, “The doctor confirmed all the assaults. My neck was stiff, I had a bite, a scratch on my face, and my face was bruised.”
The suspect remains unidentified, shedding light on ongoing safety issues for women using public transport in France.
According to a recent report by the National Observatory on Violence Against Women, seven out of ten women in the Île-de-France region, which encompasses Paris, have encountered some form of sexual violence while using public transportation.
For confidential assistance, individuals can call the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 2222 or access chat and interpretation services online.