An international tourist was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 10-year-old boy before being “set upon” by other youths at a busy Cairns intersection.
The 23-year-old Italian woman escaped with minor injuries in what police have described as a “traumatic experience” at the Lake and Spence St intersection, near the city’s main hotel precinct, at 10am on Wednesday.
“An international tourist was going about her business when she walked past a 10-year-old male child,” Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said.
“He has (allegedly) sexually assaulted her.”
As she tried to get help, she was allegedly “set upon by a number of other juveniles”, Goan said.
They allegedly attacked her, leaving her with “minor bruises and scratching about her head and face”, according to the detective.
Police were nearby and responded “within minutes”, Goan said.
The 10-year-old boy and three other children “involved in assaulting that young woman” were arrested at the scene, he said.
The four children in custody, who are known to police, are yet to be charged as officers continue to investigate the matter.
Goan said it was “abhorrent” the children allegedly involved were so young.
“People are entitled to go about their business in our community, and for that to occur would have been a traumatic experience for a young lady,” he said.
