Paris gang rape attack: Harrowing moment Aussie victim flees her attackers and begs for help from kebab shop staff

A harrowing security video captured the moment a visibly distraught Australian woman sought refuge in a Parisian kebab shop after being gang-raped, only to be confronted by one of the men who had attacked her minutes earlier.

French authorities have launched a major investigation into the brazen attack that took place in the early hours of Saturday morning in the French capital’s famous Moulin Rouge party district.

The woman told police she was attacked by a group of five men “of African appearance” at around 5am and brutally raped before escaping and seeking safety at the nearby Dounia kebab shop.

CCTV footage from the Lebanese restaurant on Boulevard de Clinchy in the 18th arrondissement shows the terrified 25-year-old sitting inside the restaurant begging the owners for help as staff and other customers try in vain to comfort her.

Then a man enters the kebab shop, but the woman gestures that he is part of the group that just attacked her.

The alleged rapist then walks up to her and pats her on the shoulder. He is then confronted at a nearby restaurant and flees the kebab shop.

The staff and guests remain in the restaurant to comfort the woman until the police arrive on the scene and question her about the horrific event, after which she is taken to the hospital in Bichat.

The woman, who was described as having her dress “inside out” and her underwear in her hand, also claimed her mobile phone had been stolen.

The footage could be crucial to French authorities’ investigation into the alarming incidents, which have cast a pall over the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in the city later this week.

“Disoriented and not speaking a word of French,” the woman told investigators of her horrific ordeal, but reportedly could not provide details about the exact location or circumstances surrounding the attack.

The woman reportedly had a flight home booked for the day after the attack, but is now believed to remain in Paris helping police with the investigation.

The Boulevard de Clinchy, famous for its art and theatre venues, is located in the centre of Paris’ famous red light district. Next to the kebab shop where the woman sought refuge, there is a lap dance club and a sex shop.

Paris police want to prevent fear among tourists as hundreds of thousands of people flock to the French capital for the Olympic Games. The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office confirms that a thorough investigation is underway.

The Australian woman sought refuge in the kebab shop in Paris, but was confronted by one of the men who had attacked her minutes earlier.

The woman told police she was attacked by a group of five men ‘of African appearance’ at around 5am and brutally raped before fleeing and seeking safety in the nearby Dounia kebab shop.

“The investigation into the allegation of gang rape, which is believed to have taken place during the night of July 19 to 20, has been entrusted to the second judicial police district,” the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office said.

The police union Alliance Paris said investigators “will do everything they can to identify the individuals as quickly as possible and bring them to justice”.

The incident occurred despite an increased police presence on the streets of Paris in the run-up to the Olympic Games.

Armed guards have been spotted patrolling the city’s boulevards and sites, while metal barriers now line the Seine.

The defense system consists of a huge force of some 45,000 police officers from 43 countries and 18,000 soldiers.

In addition to human efforts, several air units will also be involved in the “unprecedented” operation, including Rafale fighter jets, AWACS surveillance flights, Reaper surveillance drones and helicopters carrying experienced snipers.

Around 1,700 members of the British police force are already supporting French officers in Paris and Marseille, as are British sniffer dogs hand-picked by French authorities.

Images from Paris today show the city behind rows of metal barriers, as residents and tourists dine in restaurants behind fences near the River Seine – where the opening ceremony will take place on Friday.

The four-mile-long metal barricade was put in place by the Paris police prefecture and will remain in place throughout the Games to prevent and deter trouble.

The anti-terrorism fence, also known as SILT (steel belt), ultimately forms the first line of defense and was first erected on July 18.

Anyone wishing to enter the protected area must scan a QR code to gain access to the closed-off part of the city.

Cars are also not allowed to enter certain zones around a number of event locations. Only emergency services are allowed to pass.