A 40-year-old Italian woman was raped by a man, reportedly a North African male, while out walking on a nature trail with her dog in Legnago near the Adige River. A manhunt is currently underway for the suspect, with other women also describing a North African male attempting to rape them in the area.
The incident, which happened last Friday at 7 p.m., occurred on the right bank of the river, and is a popular spot for walkers and runners in the summer.
The woman was dragged into a bush by the stranger, described as “Maghreb and in his 30s,” who proceeded to rape the woman. However, the woman’s dog would not stop barking, which alerted two strangers in the vicinity who noticed what was happening and came to the woman’s aid. When they approached the woman, the attacker fled, leaving the woman half-naked in the bush. The woman was reportedly described as being in shock, according to Italian newspaper Larena.
The witnesses immediately called the police. The victim was then transported to the Mater salutis emergency room and subsequently transferred to a Verona hospital for necessary treatment and examinations following sexual violence. Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to locate the perpetrator, who witnesses say fled on foot towards Ponte Principe Umberto.
News of the attack spread across social media over the weekend, with locals in the area calling for action to find the perpetrator.
Legnago Mayor Paolo Longhi addressed the public’s concern in a social media post, stating: “I am saddened. I say this without rhetoric and without filters. Saddened as a man, and as a mayor. I know the person who suffered this brutal violence. In these difficult hours, Legnago cannot and must not react with useless phrases but with absolute firmness.”
He assured citizens that law enforcement is working diligently to identify and apprehend the assailant. The mayor also confirmed he is personally overseeing the matter and has requested increased patrols in sensitive areas of the city, starting with the riverbanks.
The city’s mayor acknowledged that police cannot be everywhere but affirmed he would deploy police resources to fight the rapist.
However, this may not have been the first time the alleged North African has struck. In recent weeks, a North African suspect has been described as having tried to rape a number of women in the area.
One young woman recounted a terrifying experience the previous Friday north of Vigo, where she narrowly escaped an attempted assault by a seemingly 30-year-old North African man who grabbed her arm while she was running.
She managed to escape into the vegetation with only scratches and then called her mother. A similar incident reportedly happened to another woman around the same time, leading the police to believe there’s a connection between her experience and the violent attack on Friday evening.
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