Olympic team’s shock at Aussie ‘gang rape in Paris’, broadcast team assaulted

Australia’s Olympic team chief has spoken out after CCTV footage showed an Aussie moments after her alleged gang rape in Paris, as a TV crew were also assaulted. Warning: Disturbing

The Australian Olympic team have reacted to allegations an Australian woman was gang raped in Paris just days before the Games begin.

According to French newspaper Le Figaro, the 25 year old told police that she had been raped by five men.

The alleged victim sought refuge in a kebab shop just metres from the Moulin Rouge in the early hours of Saturday, local time.

CCTV footage from the kebab shop obtained by 7NEWS shows one of the alleged perpetrators brazenly approaching the distressed woman to pat her back before another man takes a swing at him and he flees.

Anna Meares, Chef de Mission of Australia’s Olympic team, has labelled the alleged gang rape as ‘horrific’. Photo: Getty Images.

Australian Olympic team chef de mission Anna Meares was asked by reporters if she knew about the incident.

“It sounds horrific,” Meares said.

“Obviously, my heart goes – our hearts go out to the woman involved, and we hope that she’s being cared for and supported in the trauma that she’s experienced.”

The leader of Team Australia took the opportunity to highlight the safety measures put in place to keep her fellow competitors safe.

“We encourage them, if they go out of the village, not to go out on their own, not to wear team uniform, just to wear plain clothes,” she said.

“And we’re just waiting on further information on the actual case itself.”

Staff at the kebab shop told police that the young woman’s dress was on backwards, Le Figaro reported.

CCTV footage has shown the moments a woman (blurred) has approached a Paris kebab shop in tears.

Seconds later a customer goes to help the crying woman.

The woman told staff at the shop on Boulevard de Clichy that she had allegedly been sexually assaulted by five men described as being of African descent, according to reports.

CCTV footage from the kebab shop shows a woman in tears approaching the food outlet, followed by a customer going to the woman’s aid, as well as staff members.

CCTV footage shows a man (centre, blurred) enter a Paris kebab shop, which the woman accuses of being her attacker.

Shortly after a man enters the establishment, which she gestures towards, reports 7NEWS.

The man orders some food and approaches the Aussie woman and touches her on the back, as English-speaking people move to help her.

An altercation unfolds between a diner and the man, and he flees moments before police arrive.

The alleged Australian victim sought refuge in a kebab shop just metres from the Moulin Rouge in the early hours of Saturday, local time. Picture: iStock

The woman was apparently unable to give details on the location or circumstances surrounding the attack.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Wednesday said “the Australian Embassy in Paris has sought to offer consular assistance to an Australian assaulted in Paris.”

In a statement DFAT added: “We understand that this is a very traumatic experience and stand ready to provide assistance.”

Owing to privacy obligations, DFAT was unable to provide further information.

The Paris Prosecutor’s Office said an investigation into the alleged rape was underway.

“The investigation into the charge of gang rape likely to have been committed on the night of July 19 to 20 has been entrusted to the second judicial police district,” Paris Prosecutor’s office said.

Police officers patrol a security zone around Jeanne d’Arc statue ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Picture: AFP

Meanwhile, two members of Channel 9’s Olympics broadcast team were targeted in a scary attempted robbery on the outskirts of Paris on Monday afternoon.

Nine reporter Christine Ahern said the staff were working in the international broadcast centre and were walking back to their accommodation in the municipality of Le Bourget, northeast of Paris, when they were attacked by a group.

“It was clear it was a robbery because they went for the backpacks. There was no weapon used, but there was a quite a significant assault,” she told 3AW radio from Paris on Wednesday morning.

“The two workers managed to get away, but obviously it’s a worry.”

Ahern said the tech workers were “OK” and back at work but “shaken up”.

Originally published as Olympic team’s shock at Aussie ‘gang rape in Paris’, broadcast team assaulted