

A transgender woman was jeered by a mob and assaulted in Paris before being saved by police on the fringes of a protest by Algerians on Sunday. Julia, 31, says she was trying to make her way to the metro from the Place de la Republique in the French capital when she was heckled and abused by men who were out protesting against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Footage shows her being shouted at before she goes to confront one of the men who then beats her repeatedly across the arm. Members of the crowd can be heard jeering in the background as others try to intervene before the police take hold of the situation. Transport police officers intervened and protected Julia from any further assaults. She has since told local media that she was trying to get to the metro, but that “three individuals blocked me.”