A young woman was reportedly assaulted and sexually attacked by a man on a train in Paris, with a courageous passenger coming to her aid upon hearing her distress. The incident, captured in a disturbing video, involved Jhordana Dias, a 26-year-old Brazilian citizen, crying for help while her alleged assailant pointed towards the intervening woman before fleeing when the train stopped. The footage of Jhordana’s alarming cries caused widespread outrage after being released by French newspaper Le Parisien.
The assault occurred on the morning of October 16 between Choisy-le-Roi and Villeneuve-le-Roi stations on Line C of the Réseau Express Régional (RER) train. The man, who reportedly targeted Jhordana from the platform, entered the train car just before it departed while she was alone. Recalling the incident to BBC News Brasil, Jhordana expressed her fear upon seeing him, anticipating an attack.
The suspect sat beside Jhordana and initiated a violent assault, with Jhordana alleging an attempted rape. She recounted the struggle, stating, “He pulled down my pants. I was fighting him the whole time, and he kept pushing me down onto the seat.” She further described the physical aggression she endured, including being kissed forcefully, bitten on the mouth, scratched on the face, and slapped on the ear, leaving her in a state of shock.
Jhordana’s cries led a brave woman from another train carriage to intervene by filming the suspect with her mobile phone, prompting him to flee the scene. Jhordana immediately contacted her brother, Cicero Junior, who has resided in France for six years, detailing the traumatic encounter that left her fighting for her life.
Upon Cicero’s arrival at the station 15 minutes later, the police and train security had been alerted, but the suspect had already escaped. Cicero mentioned feeling initial police support followed by a sense of neglect. Concerned about the healing of her injuries, Jhordana and her brother sought a private doctor for a forensic examination, confirming the extent of the attacks and injuries sustained.
The suspect remains unidentified, shedding light on the persistent safety issues for women on public transportation in France. A recent report by the National Observatory on Violence Against Women revealed that seven in ten women in the Île-de-France region, including Paris, have experienced some form of sexual violence while using public transport.
For confidential assistance, individuals can call the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line at 0808 500 2222 or access online chat and interpretation services.