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Australian woman raped by 5 men in Paris a few days before the Olympic Games

Theo

New Delhi :

An Australian woman was allegedly raped by five men in Paris, just days before the city is set to host the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games. According to French newspaper Le Parisien, the “disoriented” 25-year-old woman entered a restaurant on the famous Boulevard de Clichy in the Pigalle district of Paris on Saturday wearing her dress backwards. Authorities in Paris confirmed that a “gang rape” is believed to have taken place between Friday and Saturday and an investigation is currently underway.

Local media reported that the woman, with her dress partially torn, had sought refuge in a kebab shop in the Pigalle district. When the restaurant owners saw her condition, they called for help and she was cared for by firefighters before being taken to Bichat Hospital for a medical examination.

The timing of this incident is particularly worrying as security agencies are already grappling with a variety of potential threats, including terrorist attacks, cyberattacks, crowds and the impact of possible labor strikes during the Olympics.

Strath Gordon, director of public affairs and communications for the Australian Olympic team, said Australian athletes in Paris had been informed of the alleged attack. “They are advised not to wear team uniforms in public,” Gordon said in an email on Tuesday. He stressed that the athletes had not received any threats since arriving in France and were “continuing with their preparations for the Games.”

The Australian consulate and French police are supporting the victim. Anna Meares, the Australian head of mission, expressed her shock and concern about the incident. “I have been informed, it sounds horrific. Of course we are deeply saddened by the woman involved and hope that she will be cared for and supported in the trauma she has experienced,” Ms Meares said on Tuesday morning.

Ms Meares reiterated that team members have been given a full briefing on safety precautions. “We are giving our athletes the information that the security presence is very, very high so they can act as quickly as possible to ensure their safety,” she said. “We have not had any feedback from our athletes that they have felt unsafe. We encourage them when they leave the village not to go out alone and not to wear team uniform, just civilian clothes.”

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is working to confirm details of the incident. “The Australian Embassy in Paris is making urgent enquiries to the French authorities following reports of an assault on an Australian citizen in Paris,” a spokesperson said.

In June, the alleged rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl in a Paris suburb sparked protests and condemnation from politicians who linked the crime to rampant anti-Semitism in France.

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