
A 19-year-old Venezuelan man has been arrested in the Polish city of Toruń after allegedly raping and attempting to kill a 24-year-old girl in a violent attack at night, which left the victim in a critical condition for life.
The attack happened around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday in Glazja Park, located in the Jakubskie Przedmieście neighborhood.
According to local police, a passerby heard the girl's screams and quickly intervened, scaring the attacker and calling the authorities. Police patrols were immediately dispatched, including units from outside the city.
The suspect was tracked down and arrested immediately after attempting to leave the scene. At the time of his arrest, the man had a blood alcohol level of 1.2, which is generally considered to be moderately intoxicated.
Police spokeswoman Dominika Bocian confirmed the suspect's nationality and the severity of the crime. "The 19-year-old was tracked down by officers after a report from a random witness. The girl was taken to the hospital in serious condition and is fighting for her life," the police announcement said.
The investigation is ongoing under the supervision of the prosecutor's office and forensic teams are securing evidence from the scene.
The attacker is currently in custody, but official prosecution procedures have not yet been completed. Under Polish law, attempted murder carries a sentence of at least eight years in prison, with the possibility of 25 years or life imprisonment.
As local news agency Tylko Toruń noted, the park where the attack took place is an area frequented by locals. The quick reaction of a random passerby may have prevented the woman's murder, and authorities have praised his courage in stopping the attack.
According to reports in some Polish media, he raped her, inflicted numerous stab wounds and gouged out the eyes of the 24-year-old woman with a screwdriver.