Police have launched a manhunt for two men who raped a young Sikh woman in broad daylight in a park in Birmingham in what is being treated as a ‘racially aggravated’ attack.
They are urgently appealing for help to find the two men responsible for the shocking attack.
The incident has triggered anger and fear in the local Sikh community, who fear it was a targeted assault.
The woman, in her 20s, was told to ‘go back to your own country’ by her attackers.
Police are hunting for two white men.
One is said to have a shaven-headed, heavy-built and wearing a dark-coloured sweatshirt and gloves.
The second man is reportedly wearing a grey top with a silver zip.
The incident was just before 8.30am on Tuesday (September 9) in an area off Tame Road, Oldbury.
West Midlands Police said today: “We are keen to speak with anyone in the area who may have seen two men. The woman has told us that a racist remark was made to her during the attack.”
Chief Superintendent Kim Madill, of Sandwell Police, said: “We are working really hard to identify those responsible, with CCTV, forensic and other enquiries well under way.”
They said it was being treated as racially aggravated.
A meeting has been organised at Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick tonight amid huge fear in the local community that the attack might be ‘the tip of the iceberg’.
In response, Ch Supt Madill said: “We fully understand the anger and worry that this has caused, and I am speaking to people in the community today to reassure them that we are doing everything we can to identify and arrest those responsible. Incidents like this are incredibly rare, but people can expect to see extra patrols in the area.”
Police also said they are treating the incident as ‘isolated’.
A second sexual assault was reported later the same day, also in a park area and also in broad daylight. In that alleged incident, a young woman was attacked in Kenrick Park, West Bromwich, at around 12.15pm.
Sikh Youth UK is supporting the victim of the rape incident and her family.
A community meeting is taking place at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick, tonight (Friday, September 12) for members of the community to air their concerns and discuss potential safety measures.
Jagwant Johal, representing Birmingham Race Impact Group, said of the Oldbury incident: “We are appalled and heartbroken to learn of the racist attack and rape of a young Sikh woman in broad daylight. We all need to be concerned and vigilant.”
Anyone with information on the Tame Road attack should contact police via 101 quoting log 798.