American girl raped after night out in Cannes

The alleged attack took place after the teenager and her friend accepted a ride from three men as they returned to their halls of residence in the Côte coastal town.

The victim had left her dorm at the Collège International de Cannes with a 22 year-old fellow student, also from the US, only to return several hours later crying and evidently in shock. The night guard at the student halls reported the attack to the police shortly after 4am on Saturday .

According to the statement of the 22 year-old witness, she and the victim, who had both been drinking, had planned to go out clubbing but on the way into town the younger girl had started to feel unwell and they had decided to return home.

As they were walking back along the Quai Maxime Laubeuf a dark-coloured car pulled over next to them. The three men inside asked if they would like a lift and the girls agreed and were driven to what they believed was Boulevard Jean Hibert.

After a few metres, however, they realised they were going down an unknown road and the car then suddenly stopped next to an abandoned shed. At this point, two of the men started to touch the girls in a sexual manner. The 22 year-old actively fought off the advances, got out of the car and ran away.

The young woman claims that she returned to the scene shortly after to look for her friend only to find her in a semi-conscious state, lying on a table, with a half-naked man on top of her.

At this stage, police have not released any further information about the identity of the three men, pointing out that the case has been complicated by the conflicting statements given by the two American students.

AA