A young woman was reportedly assaulted and sexually harassed by a man on a Paris train, leading to a courageous passenger coming to her aid upon hearing her distress. In a disturbing video, Jhordana Dias, a 26-year-old Brazilian citizen, can be heard calling for help as her alleged attacker points her out to the intervening woman, who then films the suspect before he escapes when the train halts. The footage of Jhordana’s alarming cries caused national uproar after being shared by the French newspaper Le Parisien.
The purported 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 apparently observed Jhordana from the platform and entered the compartment just as the doors were shutting while she was alone. Recalling the event to BBC News Brasil, Jhordana expressed her fear upon seeing him approach, sensing an impending attack.
According to Jhordana, the suspect sat beside her and initiated a violent assault, with her allegedly enduring a sexual assault attempt. She recounted the ordeal, stating, “He forcibly removed my pants. I resisted throughout, but he persisted in pushing me down onto the seat.” She further described the assailant’s actions, including kissing her without her consent, biting her mouth, scratching her face, and striking her ear, leaving her in a state of shock.
The commotion drew the attention of a brave woman in another train car, who promptly intervened by filming the suspect with her phone, prompting him to flee. Jhordana immediately contacted her brother, Cicero Junior, residing in France for six years, who described the assault as a life-threatening ordeal for his sister, who had recently arrived in the country.
Upon Cicero’s arrival at the station 15 minutes later, the police had been alerted by the passenger and train security, but the suspect had already absconded. Despite initial police assistance, Cicero later expressed a sense of neglect towards their situation. Concerned that her injuries would heal before a scheduled forensic examination on October 29, Jhordana sought a private doctor to document her injuries, which included neck stiffness, bite marks, facial scratches, and bruising.
The identity of the suspect remains unknown, shedding light on persisting safety issues for women using public transportation in France. A recent report by the National Observatory on Violence Against Women revealed that seven out of ten women in the Île-de-France region, encompassing Paris, have encountered 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 chat and interpretation services online.