Authorities in the Italian city of Novara are investigating the alleged rape of a 20-year-old woman who was attacked while commuting alone by train from Trecate to Novara at the end of July.
The assault occurred just minutes before the Trenord train arrived at Novara station, according to police.
As reported by Corriere Torino, the young woman, who lives in Trecate and works in a shop in Novara city center, told police that she was the only passenger in the carriage when a man, described as a North African male around 25 years old, approached and forcibly raped her.
“I was alone; there was no one on board except me,” the woman recounted to officers. “When my attacker approached me, I looked around. I immediately understood his intentions, but I didn’t have time to escape. I tried to call for help, but no one heard me and was able to intervene. I was alone. I was scared.”
After the train stopped at Novara station, the attacker fled and has not been seen since. The victim, still shaken, went directly to the railway police station to file a report. Investigators launched an immediate inquiry and, within days, were able to identify a suspect by cross-referencing her description with police records.
As of now, no formal charges have been filed, and authorities are appealing for witnesses. Surveillance footage from Novara station was reportedly unable to assist in identifying the man.
This case is the second violent incident reported in recent days along the same train route. On the Novara-Arona line, a young man was reportedly assaulted and robbed of his phone near the Bellinzago station.
In that case, the assailant was described as a non-EU national. The Carabinieri are investigating that case separately.
The news comes as another high-profile rape investigation makes headlines in Italy. In Perugia, a 45-year-old Afghan man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated rape, kidnapping, and multiple injuries after allegedly holding a 21-year-old Asian student captive in an abandoned city-center bar on July 19.
The student reported being raped for hours and severely beaten. A video she recorded during part of the ordeal has been seized by police and played a key role in identifying the suspect.
