Teen Hero Thwarts Attempted Rape of 13-Year-Old Girl Near Bordeaux, Police Honor Bravery

After issuing a call for witnesses on February 20, the national police found Idriss, the 15-year-old who saved a 13-year-old girl from an attempted rape and rewarded him for his heroic act. "He was both surprised and delighted that the police wanted to meet him," notes the communication manager at the departmental directorate of public security (DDSP). He acted instinctively, as healthily as possible."

The events took place around 5:30 pm on February 3 in Cenon, in the Bordeaux suburbs. While the middle school student was walking, a 49-year-old man attacked her, "would have cornered her between two cars to try to force her to have sex," reports France Info. That’s when Idriss, who was on his way to his football club, intervened. "When he saw the assault in progress, he jumped on the aggressor to pull him away by the shoulders, by the coat. The adult was already on the young girl," the police officer relates.

"Then, his aggressor turned on him. The young victim screamed, which attracted other people," the DDSP communication manager continued. "Other people, adults, were able to prevent the aggressor from going any further. And Idriss had left the scene before our colleagues arrived," he added. In addition to the national police, the young victim and her father are said to have "warmly thanked" Idriss during a telephone conversation.

The alleged aggressor was arrested the day after the incident.