A 49-year-old British national has been charged with attempted murder in France after allegedly raping and repeatedly stabbing a 60-year-old woman in Nice. The assault occurred in the early hours of Monday morning.
Police were called to Avenue Georges Clemenceau, near the Nice railway station, shortly before 1 a.m. on Monday. According to an investigating source, the attacker was subdued by a neighbor who heard the victim screaming inside an apartment building. The suspect, who was also injured, was arrested at the scene and is currently in custody. The victim was transported to a hospital with severe neck injuries, having reportedly been stabbed at least three times.
Legal restrictions in France prohibit the naming of individuals involved in alleged sex offenses. An investigating source stated that the suspect had visited the apartment building on multiple occasions, suggesting he may have known the victim.
The neighbor who intervened, a 33-year-old resident of the building, told the Nice Matin news outlet that he initially believed it was a domestic dispute. He recounted confronting the attacker in the lobby, who then allegedly threatened him. The neighbor stated he managed to disarm the attacker and then attempted to provide aid to the victim.
Eric Ciotti, the Mayor of Nice, praised the neighbor's intervention on X, formerly Twitter, describing it as a "heroic courage" that prevented a greater tragedy. Ciotti also commended the police for their swift action in arresting the perpetrator.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.