Another ‘racially-aggravated’ rape rocks north England; survivor of Punjabi origin
Sikh Federation UK says victim is a Punjabi woman in her 20s and the attacker apparently broke down the door of the house where she was living
The UK Police believe that the rape of a 20-year-old woman, believed to be of Indian heritage, in northern England was “a racially aggravated attack”. They have issued an urgent appeal to trace the suspect, a white male in his 30s.
While the police are yet to confirm further details, local community groups have claimed that the victim is a Punjabi woman and the attacker apparently broke down the door of the house where she was living.
This fresh attack has raised further concerns as it comes weeks after the racially aggravated rape of a British Sikh woman in the nearby Oldbury area.
Police seek public help
The West Midlands Police said it was called to the Park Hall area of Walsall on Saturday (October 25) evening following information on a woman in distress in the street. The force has released CCTV camera footage of the suspect as part of a public appeal for information and confirmed that they are treating the crime “as a racially aggravated attack”.
Also read: Sikh woman raped in UK’s Oldbury, police probe racist attack
“This was an absolutely appalling attack on a young woman, and we are doing absolutely everything we can to arrest the person responsible,” Detective Superintendent (DS) Ronan Tyrer, who is overseeing the investigation for the West Midlands Police, said on Sunday.
“We have teams of officers recovering evidence and building a profile of the attacker so that he can be brought into custody as soon as possible. While we are following multiple lines of enquiry right now, it’s vital that we get to hear from anyone who saw a man acting suspiciously in the area at the time,” he said.
“It may be that you were driving through the area and have dashcam footage, or you have CCTV that we have not yet recovered. Your information could be the vital breakthrough that we need,” he said.
Attacker’s profile
The attacker is described as white, in his 30s, with short hair and wearing dark clothing at the time of the attack. “At this stage, we are not linking this attack to any other offences,” DS Tyrer said in his statement.
Specialist officers from the force’s Public Protection Unit, local policing officers, and forensic officers are said to be working to recover CCTV camera footage, speak to witnesses, and identify the suspect.
Chief Superintendent Phil Dolby of Walsall Police said his team’s focus is on supporting the investigators in identifying and arresting the attacker.
Also read: Racist attacks in Ireland: 6-year-old Indian origin girl punched in face, told to 'go back to India'
“Walsall is a diverse area, and we know the fear and concern that this awful attack will cause in our communities. We have been speaking to people in the community today to listen to and understand their concerns, and there will be an increased policing presence in the coming days,” he said.
Two racially aggravated rapes in as many months
Sikh Federation UK quoted local sources to say that the “young woman who was subject to a racially aggravated rape in Walsall is a Punjabi woman”.
“The attacker apparently broke down the door of the house where she was living… West Midlands Police have now had two racially aggravated rapes of young women in their 20s in the last two months and urgently need to find those responsible,” the organisation said.
The force has made a few arrests before releasing the suspects on bail in their investigation into the racially aggravated rape of a British Sikh woman in Oldbury last month.
(With agency inputs)