Man held for Australian woman's rape

Rome, Oct 6 (IANS/AKI) Police on Thursday arrested a homeless Romanian man over a vicious rape attack and robbery against an Australian woman here at the weekend.

Police arrested the Romanian on a train between Rome and the Lazio town of Viterbo and recovered Australian dollars and jewellery allegedly stolen from the woman late on Sunday when she was attacked in a park near the Colosseum.

The 40-year-old man has been charged with sexual assault, robbery and bodily harm and was identified from footage from security cameras outside a bar near Termini central rail station where the woman spent Sunday evening.

The tourist told police she did not recall being raped but this was confirmed by doctors at Rome's San Giovanni hospital who reported injuries to her face and groin.

The woman remembered being punched in the face and having her mobile phone and wallet stolen, police said.

A passer-by came to the Australian's aid near the Colle Oppio park where she was attacked and took the woman to the nearby San Giovanni hospital, where she is being treated for concussion and injuries to her face.

--IANS/AKI

mr/