Hitchhiker reports being raped in Safed-area forest

Woman in her twenties says driver stopped car, sexually assaulted and dumped her on side of road; police have suspect in custody.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Rape victim (photo credit: Judy Siegel-Itzkovich)
Rape victim
(photo credit: Judy Siegel-Itzkovich)
A woman in her twenties from Safed reported that she was raped in the early hours of Monday when trying to hitchhike near the northern city.
According to police suspicions, after picking up the hitchhiker, the driver stopped his car inside a forested area and sexually assaulted her before dumping the victim on the side of the road.
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The victim called the police and reported the assault. She did not know where she was but police were able to locate her with the aid of cellular companies.
Police brought the victim to a hospital in Naharia and police were later able to locate a suspect in the sexual assault.
The suspect reportedly denied any link to the attack. Police were expected to request that the Acre Magistrate's Court extend the suspects demand later Monday.