Almost 200 people gathered at Free Derry corner on Wednesday night to offer their support to the woman.

The teenager was drinking with other female US students in the Bogside Inn on Saturday night when the alleged attack took place. She alleges she was raped at knifepoint some time between 10.30pm and midnight when she stepped out of the bar. She has been described as “extremely traumatised” following the incident.

Local people who wish to leave cards or messages of support for the woman have been asked to do so at Dove House.

Community worker Roisin Barton said the vigil had been organised to show solidarity with the young woman.

“We want to send the message out to the perpetrators of these attacks that we will not accept this,” she said. “For years people from all parts of the world have been welcomed into our community and we welcome people now. We want people in this area to feel safe.”

Ms Barton said people in the area felt revulsion after hearing of the alleged attack on the tourist.

Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson said she felt emotional speaking at the event. “To see us standing here tonight sends as message out the girl, that we show her solidarity.We have never tolerated abuse in our community and we will not tolerate it now. People feel appalled, saddened and revulsion about what happened.Many of us feel powerless because this girl was not from our community. We also feel for her because she is so far away from her own family.We want her to know that we will not tolerate crimes of this kind.”

SDLP Colr. Helen Quigley said the incident had sent shockwaves throughout the community.