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Philadelphia subway riders witnessed rape but did nothing, police say

Wednesday, 20 October 2021 1:39 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 20 October 2021 1:39 AM ]

The rape of a woman aboard a Philadelphia subway witnessed by as many as 10 passengers, some of whom appeared to film the attack, could have been stopped quickly if one had called 911, police said on Tuesday.

The woman was raped shortly after 9 p.m. on Oct. 13 on a train run by Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), which provides public transportation in Philadelphia, SEPTA Transit Police Chief Thomas Nestel III said.

"As many as 10 people actually saw some part of the attack on this rider," Nestel said on Philadelphia radio station WPHT.

Describing police review of surveillance video, Nestel said, "We were watching to see if somebody put a phone up to their ear indicating they might be calling 911. Instead, what we saw was people holding their phone up as if they were recording or taking pictures."

"It may have been stopped sooner if a rider called 911," SEPTA spokesman John Golden said in a statement, referring to the U.S. phone number for emergency services.

SEPTA and the Upper Darby Police Department, which is investigating the incident, did not immediately confirm other details of the incident reported by local media.

Surveillance video from the train car showed the woman attempted to rebuff her attacker, repeatedly pushing him away as he initially groped her and ultimately sexually assaulted her, local media reported.

One person finally alerted 911. It was that call by an off-duty SEPTA employee that quickly brought transit police onboard, allowing them to stop the assault and arrest the alleged rapist, SEPTA police said.

Source: Reuters

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