Trans women in Buenos Aires have spoken publicly after a group of young cyclists allegedly attacked them in Palermo's Tres de Febrero Park. Their accounts describe a frightening assault, delayed police response and repeated harassment in an area where many depend on sex work for their income.
A night ride turned into a violent assault
At least six trans women were injured when a group of young cyclists allegedly attacked them in the Bosques de Palermo, according to La Nacion. The reported weapons included sticks, stones, bottles and traffic cones; one woman described a bruised eye, while another suffered cuts to her feet from broken glass and a separate victim reportedly lost part of her ear. (Sources: La Nacion; El Pais; Clarin.)
The women later spoke at a press conference hosted by Buenos Aires City's LGBT Ombudsman's Office. They said some cyclists touched them without consent as they rode past, while others struck them. The combination of speed, numbers and violence left them fearing what might happen next. (Sources: La Nacion; C5N.)
Why the park's informal "red zone" matters
The area is informally known as a red zone because sex work takes place around parts of Tres de Febrero Park, including near Los Ombues and Andres Bello avenues and the Rosedal. For the women who work there, avoiding the location may not be a realistic option: one victim said she could not work while injured. (Sources: La Nacion; C5N.)
That context makes the alleged attack more than a sudden burst of violence. The women said similar incidents had happened before, including episodes in which cyclists allegedly filmed or harassed them. One friend told La Nacion that the group seemed to target moments when fewer women were present. (Sources: La Nacion; Clarin.)
The victims say the attacks have happened before
The women described the assault as part of a wider pattern, not an isolated encounter. One said it was roughly the third such incident that year, while another reported repeated harassment and filming over the preceding months. Their accounts point to the fear of being outnumbered, touched or struck while trying to earn a living. (Sources: La Nacion; C5N; El Pais.)
The women also questioned the time it took for police to arrive. One said she called three times and that officers took between 20 and 30 minutes to reach the scene. They described the area as insufficiently protected and called for justice and the ability to work without fear. (Sources: La Nacion; Clarin.)
What is known about the alleged attackers
Reports describe the alleged attackers as young people who practise stunt cycling, with some of those involved said to be minors. A friend of the victims suggested the group may have acted in a coordinated way, but that is her assessment, not an established finding. The available accounts do not confirm a motive or explain whether anyone directed the group. (Sources: La Nacion; El Pais; Clarin.)
That distinction matters. The women's testimony is a clear account of the harm they say they suffered; questions about planning, responsibility and motive need to be answered through investigation rather than assumption. La Nacion reported that the victims said there had been no arrests for previous incidents of this kind. (Sources: La Nacion; La Nacion's report on the alleged attackers.)
A basic question of safety and dignity
For people facing repeated harassment, reporting an attack is only one part of the problem. The victims' accounts raise practical questions about how quickly police can respond, how complaints are followed up and whether people working in the area can do so safely. Those concerns sit alongside the immediate need for medical care and a proper investigation. (Sources: La Nacion; C5N; El Pais.)
There is also a human cost that's easy to miss in a brief report: an injury can mean lost income, while the threat of another attack can make an ordinary journey feel unsafe. The women have made their own priority plain: they want justice and the chance to work without being targeted. (Sources: La Nacion; C5N.)
Closing Line
Their accounts deserve a careful investigation and a response that makes the park safer for everyone.
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