By Joann Kim
Correspondent
Four American tourists were attacked with acid on Sept. 17. The attacker is suspected to be a 41-year-old woman from Marseilles, France, according to CNN.
Michelle Krug, Courtney Siverling, Charlotte Kaufman and Kelsey Krosten were identified as the victims of the attack.
The Boston Globe reported that Krug, Siverling, and Kaufman were juniors abroad in Boston College’s Paris Program. Krosten was visiting while enrolled Copenhagen Business School in Denmark at the time of the attack.
Krug posted on Facebook that the assailant threw a solution of weak hydrochloric acid from a water bottle at her and the three other victims.
All four victims were brought to the hospital and treated for burns, according to The Washington Post.
CNN reported that officials have been in contact with the students and the students’ parents are in touch with the U.S. Embassy and French officials regarding the incident.
Investigators do not see this act as a terrorist act, as the suspect has not made any extremist threats. The alleged suspect, a woman with mental instability, stayed at the scene of the crime to show officers photos of herself with burn injuries, according to The Washington Post. As of Sept. 17, this was the only information on the suspect.
The Boston Globe reported that all four women were treated for burns at a local hospital and released, according to Jack Dunn, the spokesman for Boston College.
The solution had gotten into one of Krug’s eyes and one of the other victim’s, according to Krug. Despite this, Krug posted that all four of them are anticipating “a quick recovery.”
Silverling, who was uninjured from the attack, posted on Facebook that she would pray that “the attacker would be healed from her mental illness in the name of Jesus.”
Krug also posted on Facebook, asking for supporters to send prayers towards the alleged attacker who has a mental illness, which may have led the alleged suspect to throw acid on Krug and the other victims. She wants the suspected attacker to get all the help she “needs and deserves.”
Krug clarified the reasoning behind her wish for those to pray for the suspect, instead of reprimanding or insulting the suspect for something she cannot control.
“Mental illness is not a choice and should not be villainized,” Krug posted on Facebook.
Kelsey Kosten posted on Facebook that all the women are doing much better as of Sept. 18, according to the Chicago Tribune.
