UK police on Friday issued a public appeal for information regarding an alleged rape of a British Sikh woman earlier this week, with authorities categorising the incident as a “racially aggravated assault”, PTI reported.
The assault was reported on Tuesday morning when the woman, in her 20s, said she was sexually attacked on Tame Road in Oldbury, located in the Sandwell area of the West Midlands. According to the police, the two white male suspects allegedly made a “racist remark” during the assault, targeting the victim because of her ethnicity.
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The Sikh Federation (UK) has accused the perpetrators of making racist remarks during the assault, with one of the alleged attackers reportedly telling the victim, “You don’t belong in this country, get out.”
The Week reported, citing a Sikh Federation leader, that the attack took place in broad daylight on a busy road.
“We’re investigating after a woman reported to us that she had been raped in Oldbury in what we are treating as a racially aggravated attack,” a West Midlands Police statement said, as reported by PTI.
“The woman has told us that a racist remark was made to her during the attack. We are currently treating it as an isolated incident,” the statement added.
Police said they are keen to speak with anyone in the area who may have seen the two suspects. One of them is said to have a shaved head, a heavy build and was reported to be wearing a dark coloured sweatshirt and had gloves on. The second man was reportedly wearing a grey top with a silver zip.
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“We are working really hard to identify those responsible, with CCTV, forensic and other enquiries well under way,” said Chief Superintendent Kim Madill of Sandwell Police.
“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,” she said.
The local MP for Smethwick, Gurinder Singh Josan, said the “truly horrific attack” had left the victim traumatised and appealed for anyone with information to assist the police in investigating the “hate crime”.
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“I am reassured Sandwell police are doing everything they possibly can to find the perpetrators. The incident is being treated as a hate crime,” said Josan.
“The police are working extremely sympathetically with the victim at her pace who has been traumatised by the attack,” he added.
Groups such as Sikh Youth UK said they are supporting the victim and her family after the “brutal attack”, and the local gurdwara, Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick, has organised a public meeting on Friday to discuss vigilance and safety measures for members of the community.
(With inputs from agencies, The Week)
