Paris police investigate claim British tourist sexually assaulted
The young woman was found alone and in distress outside Châtelet-les-Halles
The tourist was found outside the shopping centre on Saturday (June 22) morning
BERK OZDEMIR/Shutterstock
Police in Paris have opened an enquiry after a British tourist claimed she was sexually assaulted in the city centre during the Fête de la musique celebrations on Friday (June 21).
The unnamed British woman, reported to be 25, was found on the streets outside Châtelet-les-Halles in the city’s first district (arrondissement) at around 07:00 on Saturday morning (June 22) by emergency services.
She was reported to be in severe distress, with her underwear in her hand and allegedly drunk. She told police officers that she had been raped by a group of men who then stole her phone.
She was taken to nearby Cochin hospital for further examination, and was further questioned by police. Officers from the 1er district de police judiciaire are in charge of the investigation.
In 2023, 93 cases of rape and sexual assaults in public places (streets, woods, public gardens) were recorded in Paris, slightly up from 92 in 2022.
The Fête de la musique celebrations are held annually on June 21, seeing musicians perform late into the night, often in public spaces.
Public transport in Paris runs all night during the celebration, and many locations are open later than usual to welcome performers and revellers.
