A woman has reportedly been raped in an “appalling” racially aggravated attack, with police releasing CCTV footage of the suspect.
West Midlands Police raced to the Park Hall area of Walsall just after 7.15pm on Saturday after a woman was reported to be distressed in the street.
Officers said that the woman, aged in her 20s, had been raped and assaulted at a nearby property by a man she did not know, sparking a major manhunt.
They added the woman is now being supported by specially trained officers following the horrific attack.
Police confirmed that the incident was being treated as “racially aggravated”, marking the second such attack in the West Midlands in two months.
Suspect Description Released
The attacker is described as white, aged in his 30s, with short hair and wearing dark clothing at the time of the assault.
Police released CCTV footage of the suspect and asked anyone who knows his identity to ring 999 immediately.
Detective Superintendent Ronan Tyrer, of West Midlands Police, said: “This was an absolutely appalling attack on a young woman, and we are doing absolutely everything we can to arrest the person responsible.”
“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.”
He appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward urgently.
“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. 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.”
Detective Superintendent Tyrer added: “At this stage we are not linking this attack to any other offences.”
Door Broken Down During Attack
Dabinderjit Singh OBE, a Lead Executive for the Sikh Federation, said the woman is Punjabi, and a man allegedly “broke down the door of the house where she was living”.
He said a neighbour heard the woman’s “screams” and “offensive words” being said to her during the horror assault, suggesting racist abuse formed part of the attack.
Mr Singh raised concerns about a pattern of similar attacks targeting young Sikh women in the region.
“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,” he said.
The comments highlight growing fear within the British Sikh community following a spate of attacks on young women.
Increased Police Presence
Chief Superintendent Phil Dolby, of Walsall Police, said officers were focusing on supporting investigators whilst addressing community concerns.
“Our focus is on supporting the investigators in identifying and arresting the attacker,” Ch Supt Dolby said.
“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.”
The pledge of additional patrols aims to reassure residents following the shocking attack in the residential area.
Second Attack in Two Months
The incident comes just one month after a man was arrested in a separate case when officers investigated an alleged racially motivated rape of a Sikh woman in the West Midlands.
Police were called after a woman in her 20s reported being attacked by two white men in Oldbury, West Midlands, in a case bearing striking similarities to Saturday’s assault.
The vile attack caused outrage and fear among the British Sikh community after it was alleged that the attackers directed racist abuse at the victim during the assault.
Community leaders have expressed alarm at what they describe as a disturbing pattern of racially motivated sexual violence targeting young Sikh women in the region.
Community Outrage
The attacks have sent shockwaves through Britain’s Sikh community, with many expressing concern about the safety of young women and calling for urgent action from authorities.
Sikh community organisations have been holding meetings to discuss safety measures and support for potential victims, whilst urging police to treat the attacks with the utmost seriousness.
The racially aggravated element of both attacks has raised particular concern, with victims reportedly subjected to racist abuse whilst being sexually assaulted.
Religious and community leaders have called for enhanced protection for vulnerable women and swift justice for those responsible for the horrific crimes.
Appeal for Information
West Midlands Police has urged anyone with information about Saturday’s attack to come forward immediately, emphasising that even seemingly minor details could prove crucial to the investigation.
Detectives are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who was in the Park Hall area of Walsall between 6pm and 8pm on Saturday evening.
Drivers who may have dashcam footage from the area during that timeframe are being asked to review their recordings and contact police if anything suspicious was captured.
Residents with CCTV or doorbell cameras that cover streets in the vicinity are also urged to check their footage and report anything relevant to investigators.
Information can be provided by calling 999 and quoting the relevant crime reference number, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The victim is receiving ongoing support from specialist officers trained in dealing with sexual assault cases, as well as support from community organisations.
West Midlands Police has assured the public that significant resources have been deployed to identify and apprehend the suspect as quickly as possible.
The force has emphasised that racially aggravated sexual violence will not be tolerated and that every effort is being made to bring the perpetrator to justice.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
