Man held in Paris following punch of woman in broad daylight
A PARISIAN woman was punched in the face in broad daylight after telling a man to stop harassing her in the street. The attack has shocked the nation.
MARIE Laguerre has become a symbol of sexual harassment in France after posting a video of her assault to social media.
The French woman was outside a bar in eastern Paris last month when a man violently attacked her after she told him to “shut up” for repeatedly harassing her with obscene words and gestures.
Surveillance cameras recorded the horrific encounter, showing the unknown assailant throw an ashtray at the 22-year-old student and viciously slap her in the face.
Witnesses intervened to stop the French man inflicting more harm but failed to detain him.
After being punched, Ms Laguerre filed a complaint with police who opened an investigation into “sexual harassment” and “violence with a weapon”.
The following day, she posted the shocking video to her Facebook page.
“Last night, as I was coming back home in Paris, I walked past a man who sexually/verbally harassed me,” Ms Laguerre wrote.
“He wasn’t the first one and I can’t accept being humiliated like that, so I replied “shut up”. “He then threw an ashtray at me, before rushing back to punch me, in the middle of the street, in front of dozens of people.
“This is an unacceptable behaviour. It happens everyday, everywhere and I don’t know a single woman who doesn’t have a similar story.”
The young woman added: “I am sick of feeling unsafe waking in the street. Things need to change, and they need to change now.”
French police say the suspect has now been arrested. A judicial official confirmed the arrest to AP, adding that the suspect remained on custody.
According to French media, the man had been receiving psychiatric treatment at a Paris hospital and was arrested as he was leaving the facility.
The attack occurred just days before French parliament approved a bill that outlaws cat-calling, “sexist outrage” and degrading, intimidating or hostile behaviour. Hefty on-the-spot fines will be handed out to street harassers, starting from September.
The film of the attack on Ms Laguerre has been viewed more than 6 million times on YouTube.