American tourist raped in public toilet in central Paris

A 23-year-old man has been charged and remanded in custody after an American tourist was raped in a public toilet in the centre of Paris, in a case that has caused shock in the busy riverside area that was considered safe.

Shortly after 1am, the woman stopped to use a public toilet near the Louis-Philippe bridge in the fourth arrondissement. The toilet, not far from local bars, is considered safe and well maintained. It was part of new facilities put in place six years ago when the riverside area became car-free.

Security guards in the area came to help and police arrested the man, who lives in Asnières-sur-Seine, outside Paris. In initial police interviews, he denied rape and said the woman had consented.

The woman was immediately taken to a Paris hospital. After giving evidence to the police, she and her partner flew back to the US.