Aussie woman gang-raped just days before Olympics
By Kwedu News
A 25-year-old Australian woman was allegedly gang-raped by five men in Paris, just days before the city hosts the 2024 Olympic Games.
The incident has raised concerns about security in the city, which is already on high alert for potential threats.
According to French newspaper Le Parisien, the woman entered a restaurant on Boulevard de Clichy in the Pigalle neighborhood on Saturday, disoriented and wearing her dress backwards.
Authorities confirmed that a gang-rape likely occurred between Friday and Saturday, and an investigation is underway.
The woman took refuge in a kebab shop, where restaurant owners called for help upon seeing her state.
She was attended to by firefighters and taken to Bichat Hospital for a medical examination.
The incident has sparked shock and concern among Australian Olympic officials, who have since warned athletes to be cautious while in public.
“…it sounds horrific. Obviously, our hearts go out to the woman involved, and we hope she’s being cared for and supported in the trauma she’s experienced,” said Anna Meares, the Australian team Chef de Mission.
“Information we’re passing on to our athletes is that security presence is really, really high and that’s in order for them to act as quickly as possible to keep them safe.
“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,” she said.
The Australian consulate and French police said they are providing support to the victim, and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is working to confirm the details of the incident.
The alleged gang-rape raises concern about security in Paris, which is already grappling with potential threats such as terrorist attacks, cyber-attacks and labor strikes during the Olympics.
