British journalist hospitalized in Beirut after attacker tore her clothes and tried to suffocate her during attempted rape while jogging
- The anonymous victim was reportedly attacked on the waterfront of the Lebanese capital
- Lebanese security forces arrested a Syrian man on suspicion of attempted rape
A British journalist has been the victim of an attempted rape while jogging in Beirut, according to local security forces.
The unnamed reporter was running along the waterfront of the Lebanese capital when her attacker reportedly ambushed her outside a children’s entertainment center in the Biel area last Wednesday.
The man was arrested and officials later said he was Syrian and had confessed to 30 similar attacks during questioning.
Lebanese internal security forces released a photo of the unnamed alleged attacker, adding that they had arrested the suspect for “attempted rape.”
A statement released via Twitter on Sunday, April 2, read: “Information Department in record time arrested the suspect in the assault and attempted rape of a British journalist in the Beirut waterfront area near KIDS MONDO, which took place on March 29. /2023.
“The investigation is under the supervision of the competent judiciary.”
Photo shows the Syrian man who allegedly raped a British journalist in Beirut, Lebanon
An illustrative photo of Beirut waterfront in Lebanon where a Syrian man attempted to rape a British journalist, undated. He tried to rape her while she was jogging
The British journalist’s identity and current condition are currently unclear, but local reports suggested she had been taken to hospital.
An update from Lebanese security forces said the attacker ‘harassed and attempted to rape’ [the journalist]as he ripped her clothes, beat her, tried to suffocate her and fled on a bicycle.”
They alleged that the perpetrator had told officers when he was arrested that “he has been hunting girls for about eight months with the aim of harassing them and touching their bodies, especially girls of foreign nationalities.”
The Union of Progressive Women, a non-profit organization based in Lebanon that champions women’s rights and aims to eradicate gender-based violence, has issued a response.
The statement read: “The attempted rape of a young woman in Beirut is a wake-up call for all women and girls in Lebanon – not just in Biel, but in all Lebanese streets, alleys, shops and neighborhoods where there is no light. , no security personnel, no officially designated safe places for practicing sports hobbies and no surveillance cameras.’