UPPER DARBY (PA) A stranger raped a woman on a suburban Philadelphia commuter train. The victim was accompanied by other riders, who a police official stated should have done more.
Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt, of the Upper Darby Police Department, stated that officers were summoned to the 69th Street terminal on Wednesday around 10 p.m. following the attack on the westbound train on Market-Frankford Line.
Bernhardt stated that an employee of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority was present in the area as the train passed and called police to report "something wasn't right" regarding a woman on board the train.
SEPTA officers waited at the next stop and found the woman. They also arrested a male suspect. The woman was taken to the hospital.
Bernhardt described the victim as "an unbelievably strong lady" and provided cops with lots of information. He said that she did not know her attacker.
Bernhardt stated that she is on the mend. We are hopeful that she will make it through this."
Bernhardt stated that the entire episode was recorded on surveillance video and showed other passengers on the train at that time.
Bernhardt stated that there were many people who should have intervened. Someone should have done something. It speaks to our society's current state. I mean, who would let something like this happen? It is troubling.
According to Delaware County court records, Fiston Ngoy (35) has been charged with rape and aggravated indecent attack, as well as other related charges. Bernhardt stated that he was known to the SEPTA as well as Upper Darby police.
A defense attorney is not listed in court documents.
SEPTA released a statement calling it "a horrible criminal act" and asking anyone who witnesses it to report it to the authorities.
The train was not the only one to witness the horrific act. A rider could have called 911 to stop it sooner," said the authority.
