Police launch manhunt after 'racially aggravated rape' in UK park

A major police manhunt is underway after a woman was raped in a suspected racially motivated attack. West Midlands Police were called to the Park Hall area of Walsall shortly after 7:15pm on Saturday after a woman was reported to be distressed in the street. Officers established that the woman, in her 20s, had been raped and assaulted at a nearby property by a man she didn't know.

The force confirmed that the incident was being treated as "racially aggravated". In an urgent appeal for information, the attacker was described as white and in his 30s, with short hair and dark clothing. "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 Ronan Tyrer said.

"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.

"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."

Anyone with information or footage of the suspect was urged to ring 999 immediately.

The force said the attack was not being "linked to any other offences" after a Sikh woman was raped in grassland on Tame Road, Oldbury, in an incident also treated as racially aggravated just last month.

In a further statement on Sunday, West Midlands Police said officers from the public protection unit, local policing officers and forensic officers had worked overnight as part of the ongoing investigation.

Chief superintendent Phil Dolby said: "Our focus is on supporting the investigators in identifying and arresting the attacker. 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 police presence in the coming days."

Members of the public with information about the incident can also contact the force on 101 or through the live chat on its website, quoting log 4027 of 25 October.