British policewoman, 23, is raped at knifepoint near the base of the Eiffel Tower
British policewoman, 23, is raped at knifepoint near the base of the Eiffel Tower
- The woman was staying with a friend in Paris when she was attacked
- In July, the mayor of Paris faced pressure to close the park at night after an alleged rape
A British police officer has said she was raped at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower on Monday.
The victim, 23, told French police that she was attacked by a man with a knife in the Champ de Mars park shortly before midnight that evening.
She said the suspect pulled out a knife as she tried to fend off his advances.
After the man fled, she called the police. The police quickly arrived on the scene and the victim was treated by the fire brigade.
Police arrested a 35-year-old man about an hour after the woman reported the attack and provided a description of the suspect.
A British police officer has said she was raped at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower on Monday
The victim, 23, told French police she was attacked by a man with a knife in the Champ de Mars park
The victim was a tourist staying overnight with a friend in the French capital Le Parisien.
The attacker struck after the victim went behind a bush to go to the toilet.
She was separated from her friend for only a few moments when the attacker threatened her with a knife.
Police officers arrested a man and a suspect was arrested last night.
In July, a tourist from Mexico reported that she had been raped in a park near the famous monument.
A 27 year old woman told authorities the attack happened in the early hours of July 27 on the Champ de Mars Park in Paris.
Two of the five men were arrested for their alleged involvement in the rape, but were released shortly afterwards.
The Champ de Mars is a large garden that extends from the Eiffel Tower and is extremely popular with tourists and locals.
It will be a key venue during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, when beach volleyball will be held at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and judo and wrestling will be held in the temporary Arena Champ de Mars at the other end of the park.
Unlike most Parisian parks that close at night, the Champ de Mars is accessible 24 hours a day.
The reported rape has revived pressure on Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to close the park at night for safety reasons.
The city’s mayor is under pressure to close the park at night after an alleged rape there over the summer
France is on high alert after a deadly knife attack in northern France last Friday
Police have been photographed patrolling the area around the Eiffel Tower in recent days following the decision to put the country on high alert following a deadly knife attack in northern France on Friday, October 13.
Mohammed, a 20-year-old Chechen refugee, stabbed a French teacher to death and injured two other people in a knife attack at a school in Arras.
France deployed an additional 7,000 troops to patrol key areas following the attack.
Earlier today, the Palace of Versailles was evacuated due to a bomb threat.
It is the second time in days that the former French royal residence has been evacuated.