A woman was raped Wednesday night on a SEPTA Market-Frankford elevated train while other riders looked on and did not call 911, authorities said Friday.
The attack took place about 11 p.m. A police officer arrested a suspect at the 69th Street Transportation Center after a SEPTA employee noticed the attack taking place and alerted police.
Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt of the Upper Darby Police Department said the assault was captured on surveillance video and he was shocked after watching the footage that showed other riders on the train at the time who did not stop the attack or call police.
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The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Berhardt said she did not know her attacker.
The arrest occurred after the westbound train arrived at the station. Both SEPTA and Upper Darby employees said it appears from surveillance video that other riders on the train could have called 911 to alert police.
"It's disturbing that there were definitely people on the El and no one did anything to intervene or help this woman," Bernhardt said, referring to the Market-Frankford Elevated Line that runs between Upper Darby and Frankford in Lower Northeast Philadelphia.
He continued, “It speaks to where we are in society; I mean, who would allow something like that to take place? So it’s troubling."
SEPTA issued a statement calling it a “horrific act" and urging anyone witnessing such such an attack to report it to authorities.
"The assault was observed by a SEPTA employee, who called 911, enabling SEPTA officers to respond immediately and apprehend the suspect in the act," SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch said in a statement. "There were other people on the train who witnessed this horrific act, and it may have been stopped sooner if a rider called 911. SEPTA urges anyone who observes a crime being committed or any dangerous situation occurring to report it. Anyone witnessing an emergency should immediately call 911."
Upper Darby police are now leading the investigation and SEPTA police are assisting, the transit agency spokesman said Friday.
The suspect was identified as Fiston Ngoy, 35, who is believed to be a homeless man, Bernhardt said. Ngoy has been charged with rape, aggravated indecent assault and related counts, according to Delaware County court records.
Court documents don't list a defense attorney, and a listed number for him couldn't be found Saturday.
