Vicious attempted rape of British student in Villa Borghese highlights security dangers in park

ROME –Calls for better security have intensified after attempted rape of a 21 year old British woman student on Monday evening in the Eternal City's most central park, the Villa Borghese. Police are currently looking for the attacker. The Villa Borghese is Rome's fifth largest park extending over the Pinciano district and Campo Marzio. The park was inaugurated in 1903 and is home to the tourist-famed Borghese Gallery but also has attracted a growing population of homeless people and impoverished migrants who police have allowed to camp out there. 

The student identified as Anna by Il Messaggerro , originally from London, currently attending La Sapienza University was walking home down Viale Washington, a road she takes often when she noticed a man following her around 8:30 pm on Monday evening. Initially she did not think much of it but when he got increasingly closer she crossed the road and quickened her pace. 

The man then grabbed her and dragged her behind a bush punching her, pressing her head to the ground and attempting to remove her clothes. Anna described trying to get away from her attacker. “I tried to get up, but he was too heavy for me. He was hitting me to try to stun me. He punched me several times in the face.” The attacker next tried to unbutton her pants. 

Luckily a taxi driver heard Anna’s screams and came to save her. The attacker fled the scene when he saw the taxi driver approaching. “If it hadn’t been for him, I would have been yet another rape victim” She said. 

The Taxi driver has been identified as Fabbio Moccia, the Carabinieri have attained the footage from his dash dam. Moccia told his story to Corriere Della Sera stating ""I saw her staggering in the street, she told me a man had tried to take her pants off. That place is dark, and more cameras would be needed."

He described the moment in which he helped Anna explaining "She only spoke English, I tried to understand what she was saying. She was very scared, also because her cell phone had run out of battery and she didn't know how to call for help. So she started walking toward Via Veneto. At first I realized that she had been attacked, then that someone had tried to unbutton her pants. I took my cell phone and called 112. Then I waited with her for the ambulance and the police to arrive. In the meantime, to calm her down, I passed her a small bottle of water I had in the car. Then they took her to the hospital and I never saw her again."

Moccia went on to describe the unsafe nature of this area of the park due to its lack of light. "The streetlights are on, but have you seen how much light they provide? I think it's not enough. After sunset, it's dark in some places. And anyway, I wonder how there aren't any surveillance cameras in that part of the park. It's a green area that's always open, and I think it should be better covered by video surveillance. There's a lot of people coming and going, tourists, and single women. That would be important."

The incident has raised questions about tightening security in Villa Borghese park. A highly popular destination for tourists and locals alike and is generally considered safe during the day. However parts of the park, such as Viale Washington, are not very well lit at night and have attracted some crimes over the years. 

Police are still looking for the attacker, but no arrest has been made.