Catania - A vacation afternoon turned into a nightmare for two young Hungarian tourists. Three men, of Moroccan origin and illegally residing in Italy, were arrested by the State Police in Paternò (Catania) on charges of gang rape. A swift operation, made possible by the ingenuity and courage of the victims.
The Trap: A Passage to Horror
According to investigators' reconstruction, the incident began after a day at the beach. The two girls allegedly accepted a ride from two young men who offered to take them to their bed and breakfast.
A gesture of courtesy that concealed a criminal plot. After a few kilometers, the vehicle was diverted to a secluded area outside the city. This is where the violence began: the two allegedly began touching them obsessively and against their will.
The nightmare on board the van
The situation escalated when the van stopped in an isolated location and a third man, also of Moroccan origin, climbed aboard. The three men allegedly forced the girls to use cocaine. The horror continued during the journey, as the three men continued to grope the victims, ignoring their desperate pleas to stop.
A trick to ask for help
In a moment of clarity, one of the tourists pretended to call her mother to reassure her. In reality, she contacted her sister, pretending to be on the phone and asking her to locate her cell phone. She also managed to read and provide the van's license plate number. Her sister promptly alerted the emergency number 112, providing the vehicle's real-time location.
Police cars intercepted the van in Paternò. The officers found the two young women crying on a bench and the three men nearby. After being rescued and taken to the hospital, the women filed a complaint, describing the nightmare they had experienced. The three attackers, aged 21, 22, and 24, were immediately arrested and taken to Piazza Lanza prison in Catania. The judge confirmed the arrest, ordering their pre-trial detention.
It's incredible how such terrible things can happen to people on vacation. I don't understand how men can do such things; it's truly shocking. I hope the girls recover from this nightmare soon.