A brutal attack was launched on an American woman hiking in Papua, New Guinea as she was gang-raped and had her fingers chopped off.
An American woman hiking in Papua, New Guinea with her London-based boyfriend was gang-raped and three of her fingers chopped in a brutal attack along a famous World War II trail, a report said Wednesday, January 12.
PNG Police said the pair, both aged 31, were on the Kokoda track which runs through the jungles of the island state off Australia’s north-eastern tip when they were attacked and stripped of their belongings including mobile phones, shoes, backpacks and 15,000 kina (US$5,000) in cash.
"Two expatriate tourists, a male and a female, both 31, were trekking the Kokoda Track and heading towards Templeton Two (a campsite) when they were ambushed by armed men," local assistant Police Commissioner Sylvester Kalaut told The National newspaper of the Monday ambush.
"The male trekker was tied to a tree and the female tracker was repeatedly raped before three of her fingers were chopped. The incident took place for an hour before they (trekkers) were set free."
Police described the attack as a gang-rape and told the newspaper at least two suspects carrying bush knives and spears were involved. One of them was being held by villagers, The National added, which identified the tourists as American and London-based.
The couple fled to a village and were taken to the lawless Pacific island’s capital Port Moresby, where they were given medical attention.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed the attack and added that the couple were hiking without a licensed tour operator.