A young woman was reportedly assaulted on a train in Paris before a courageous passenger came to her aid upon hearing her distress. In a disturbing video, Jhordana Dias, a 26-year-old Brazilian national, can be heard pleading for help as her alleged attacker points towards the intervening woman, then flees when the train halts. The footage of Jhordana’s alarming cries caused widespread outrage after being shared by French newspaper Le Parisien.
The incident 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 reportedly targeted Jhordana upon seeing her on the platform and boarded the carriage just as the doors were closing while she was alone. Recounting the event to BBC News Brasil, Jhordana expressed her fear of an imminent attack upon noticing his demeanor.
The suspect proceeded to sit beside her and initiated a violent assault, with Jhordana alleging an attempted rape. Describing her ordeal, she mentioned, “He forcibly removed my pants. I resisted throughout, but he persistently pushed me down onto the seat.” She went on to detail the perpetrator’s unwelcome advances and physical violence against her.
Upon hearing her cries, a brave female passenger in another part of the train intervened by recording the suspect on her phone, prompting him to flee the scene. Jhordana immediately contacted her brother, Cicero Junior, who reported that the attack left his recently arrived sister fighting for her life.
Cicero arrived at the station 15 minutes later, where the police and train security had already been notified by the intervening passenger, but the suspect had already absconded. While initially receiving police assistance, Cicero later expressed feelings of neglect towards their situation. Concerned that her injuries would heal before a scheduled forensic examination on October 29, Jhordana sought a private doctor for an evaluation, confirming the extent of her physical trauma.
The identity of the suspect remains unknown, highlighting prevalent 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, which encompasses Paris, have experienced some form of sexual violence while using public transport.
For confidential support, individuals can contact the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line at 0808 500 2222 or access chat and interpretation services online.