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Philadelphia

Woman raped on train as bystanders did nothing, police say

A suspect was arrested and the woman was taken to a hospital, authorities say

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A woman was raped by a stranger on a commuter train in suburban Philadelphia in the presence of other riders who a police official said "should have done something."

Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt of the Upper Darby Police Department said officers were called to the 69th Street terminal around 10 p.m. Wednesday after the assault on the westbound train on the Market-Frankford Line.

An employee of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority who was in the vicinity as the train went past called police to report that "something wasn’t right" with a woman aboard the train, Bernhardt said.

SEPTA police waiting at the next stop found the woman and arrested a man. The woman was taken to a hospital.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: SEPTA elevated trains sit idle at the the 69th Street Teminal on November 3, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. TWU Local 234 Union unexpectedly walked out of talks just before midnight on Monday. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)

SEPTA elevated trains sit idle at the the 69th Street Teminal on Nov. 3, 2009 in Philadelphia. (Getty Images)

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Bernhardt called the victim an "unbelievably strong woman" who provided police with a lot of information. She did not know her attacker, he said.

"She’s on the mend," Bernhardt said. "Hopefully she will get through this."

Fishton Ngoy is facing charges including rape, aggravated indecent assault and related counts, authorities say. (Upper Darby Township Police)

Fishton Ngoy is facing charges including rape, aggravated indecent assault and related counts, authorities say. (Upper Darby Township Police) ( )

The entire episode was captured on surveillance video that showed other people on the train at the time, Bernhardt said.

"There was a lot of people, in my opinion, that should have intervened; somebody should have done something," Bernhardt said. "It speaks to where we are in society. I mean, who would allow something like that to take place? So it’s troubling."

Fiston Ngoy, 35, has been charged with rape, aggravated indecent assault and related counts, according to Delaware County court records. Bernhardt said both SEPTA and Upper Darby Police are familiar with Ngoy.

A train moves along the Market-Frankford Line in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. With a strike threat looming for Philadelphia's bus, trolley and subway workers next week, officials are asking customers in the nation's sixth-largest transit system to start figuring out alternate ways to get to work and school. The current contract covering more than 5,700 workers at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority expires at midnight on Monday, and a walkout could begin at the start of service on Nov. 1.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A train moves along the Market-Frankford Line in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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Court documents don’t list a defense attorney, and a listed number for Ngoy could not be found Saturday.

SEPTA issued a statement calling it a "horrendous criminal act" and urging anyone who witnessed it to report it to authorities.

"There were other people on the train who witnessed this horrific act, and it may have been stopped sooner if a rider called 911," the authority said.