Man arrested after CCTV footage of woman being hit in face outside Paris cafe angers France
Widely-shared clip of attack triggers debate about sexual harassment
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man is has been arrested in Paris in connection with an apparently random attack in which a woman was hit in the face.
Marie Laguerre said the man made a number of degrading comments and obscene noises as she walked past a cafe in the French capital on her way home from work.
After the 22-year-old told him to “shut up”, the man threw an ashtray at her head before they traded insults and he struck her with his hand across the face.
The incident was captured on CCTV and shared widely on social media, triggering a debate about sexual harassment and the treatment of women.
Reports in French media said the suspect, named as 25-year-old Firas M, had been receiving psychiatric treatment in hospital and was arrested as he left the facility in northern Paris.
Police initially struggled to pursue the lead because of medical confidentiality rules that prevented the hospital from sharing information with detectives.
The suspect was described as “violent” and “able to hit his mother” according to French newspaper, Le Parisien.
He is being held in custody following his arrest on Monday and Ms Laguerre has been invited to the police station to identify him.
Commenting on the attack at the time, Ms Laguerre said: "It wasn't the first time that day, that week, or that month. It had been building up. I got angry and said 'shut up'. I didn't think he'd hear, but he did.”
Angered by her response, the man threw an ashtray at her, missing by only a few inches.
Continuing with the insults, he then struck her across the face.
"I know he's going to hit me," she said. "I could have run off but there was no question of that. I wasn't going to look down and certainly wasn't going to apologise."
The attack prompted an outpouring of anger.
Marlène Schiappa, the French equalities minister said shortly afterwards: “It is not acceptable that in France, in 2018, women are hit in the street because they refuse to be insulted when they walk. It is a fundamental issue of liberty."
After the attack, people in a neighbouring cafe intervened and she briefly went home before going back to collect witness statements and complain to police.
Many members of the public praised her actions on social media and Alexandra Cordebard, mayor of Paris’s 10th arrondissement, expressed her support.