Woman Raped on SEPTA Train and Riders Didn't Call 9-1-1; Nobody Did Anything!

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.Show more

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 alert 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.

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," Upper Darby Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt said, referring to the Market-Frankford Elevated Line that runs between Upper Darby and Frankford in Lower Northeast Philadelphia.

SEPTA issued a statement calling it a “horrific act" and urging anyone witnessing such such an attack to report it to authorities.