 "This is an image of the attacker provided by the West Midlands Police. Image courtesy: X/@WMPolice")
In a shocking incident of racial crime, a 20-year-old woman of Indian origin was allegedly raped in the United Kingdom’s West Midlands. The incident came to light after police rushed to the Park Hall area of Walsall on Saturday (October 25) evening, upon receiving information of a woman being distressed and sitting in the middle of the road.
The police have confirmed that they were treating the crime “as a racially aggravated attack”. The West Midlands Police has also released CCTV footage of the suspect as a public appeal for information.
Here’s what we know so far.
What do we know about the Indian-origin survivor?
Not much information about the victim has been released by the police to protect her identity. According to news agency PTI, some locals have claimed that the young woman traces her origins to Punjab. The Sikh Federation UK has also released a statement confirming this. This is not an isolated incident. “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.
Who is the culprit?
The police have released a picture of the attacker from the CCTV footage, most likely from a park, in a bid to trace him. They have also appealed to the locals to cooperate with the officials to find him. As per the investigation, the attacker is described as a White male in his 30s with short hair. They further stated that he was wearing dark clothing at the time of the incident.
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.” “This was an absolutely appalling attack on a young woman, and we are doing absolutely everything we can to arrest the person responsible,” he added.
How is the police tackling the incident?
The police aim to identify and arrest the attacker, stated Chief Superintendent Phil Dolby of Walsall Police. The force has deployed the Public Protection Unit, local police, and forensic officers to recover CCTV, interview witnesses, and track down the suspect.
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.” Asking the locals for their cooperation, Tyrer 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.”
What are the reactions to the incident?
The incident has sent shockwaves across the Asian community. Preet Kaur Gill, the Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, said, “Deeply shocked and saddened that we are hearing of yet another racially aggravated rape this time in Walsall. West Midlands police have reported a rape and assault of a young woman in her 20s in the Park Hall area, described as racially aggravated."
Condemning the incident, Zarah Sultana, the Member of Parliament (MP) from Coventry South, wrote on X, “On Saturday, a woman of Punjabi heritage was raped in a racist attack in Walsall. Last month, a Sikh woman was raped in a racist attack in Oldbury. These horrifying attacks show how racism and misogyny feed each other — fuelled by the rise of fascism and hate. As a woman of colour, I know how real and frightening this threat is. We must stand together — against racism, fascism and misogyny — and fight for a socialist society built on equality, justice and solidarity.”
What happened to the Sikh woman in Oldbury?
The assault comes just a month after the alleged rape of a Sikh woman in the nearby Oldbury area on September 9. The incident took place around Tame Road in Oldbury, in Birmingham. The police investigated the crime as a “racially aggravated attack”.
Two people have been arrested in connection with the crime. A 49-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman were arrested earlier but were later released on bail.
With inputs from agencies