A young female jogger was violently attacked as she ran through a park in the French city of Toulouse on Tuesday by a Nigerian illegal immigrant who reportedly claimed to have wanted to kill her and was already the subject of five deportation orders.
The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. in a small park to the west of the city when 27-year-old Lola was accosted by the suspect who attempted to rape her at knifepoint.
French newspaper Le Parisien reported how the man pulled down her leggings and ordered her to “let it happen” but Lola resisted and cried out for help, prompting the suspect to punch her several times in the face and attempt to strangle her.
Lola’s fate may have been sealed had it not been for a 58-year-old homeless man who heard her plea for help and intervened, causing the suspect to flee.
Emergency responders tended to the victim at the scene and treated her for a swollen face. She was also in shock.
Authorities found a knife, trainers, and a cap at the scene belonging to the suspect, and the eyewitness had managed to take a photograph of the suspect.
The following day, the 32-year-old Nigerian national surrendered himself to a police station in Marseille where he was arrested and held in custody.
On Thursday, Toulouse public prosecutor Samuel Vuelta Simon confirmed the suspect was illegally residing in France and was known to the authorities. He has made multiple applications for French citizenship since 2018, all of which have been denied.
French media also reported that the suspect had previously been issued with five orders to leave French territory, known as OQTFs.
It is understood that during his police interview, the suspect claimed to have wanted to kill the victim, resulting in an upgrade of the charges against the man by the public prosecutor to attempted homicide and aggravated rape.