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CRIME

Two arrested over suspected rape of tourist in Paris park near Eiffel Tower

French authorities have detained two men on suspicion of taking part in an alleged gang rape of a Mexican tourist in the Champ de Mars park, which lies at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in central Paris, prosecutors said on Friday.

Two arrested over suspected rape of tourist in Paris park near Eiffel Tower
A French police logo (Photo by FRED TANNEAU / AFP)

The men were detained on Thursday in an ongoing investigation into the suspected rape of the woman, Paris prosecutors said.

The Le Parisien daily, which first reported the incident, said that the 27-year-old woman was attacked by five men, meaning that  three suspects were still at large. This has not been confirmed by prosecutors.

The Champ de Mars is a large park extending from the Eiffel Tower which is hugely popular with tourists and locals.

It will be a key site during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris when beach volleyball is to be held at the foot of the Eiffel Tower  and judo and wrestling at the temporary Arena Champ de Mars at the other end of the park.

Unlike most Paris parks which close during the night, the Champ de Mars can be accessed round-the-clock.

The reported rape revived pressure on Paris’s Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo to close the park at night for safety reasons.

“How many sexual assaults and rapes does Anne Hidalgo expect there to be before she agrees to close the Champ de Mars at night so that Parisians and tourists are safe?” said Rachida Dati right-wing mayor of Paris 7th district where the park is located arrondissement, on Twitter which is being rebranded as X.

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CRIME

Schoolteacher stabbed by pupil in western France

An 18-year-old pupil was detained in western France on Monday after injuring his schoolteacher and fleeing, authorities said.

Schoolteacher stabbed by pupil in western France

The teacher from the town of Chemille-en-Anjou in western France “suffered a facial injury that is not life-threatening”, said a joint statement from the authorities including the prefect and public prosecutor.

After the attack at the Lycee de l’Hyrome on Monday morning, the suspect quickly left through the window, abandoning his weapon, according to the authorities. He was detained by gendarmes and municipal police.

The officials said in the statement that the young man was not previously known to the police, adding that counselling was provided to pupils and teachers after the attack.

An investigation into “attempted murder” has been launched.

France has in recent years been shaken by a series of school incidents involving attacks on teachers as well as schoolchildren by their peers.

In April, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced measures to crack down on teenage violence in and around schools, as the government seeks to reclaim ground on security from the far-right ahead of upcoming European elections.

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