OLDbury, U.K., Sept. 15, 2024 — Authorities have arrested a man in connection with a racially motivated rape and assault that left a Sikh woman in her 20s deeply shaken in the West Midlands. The attack, which allegedly included racist slurs, occurred Tuesday morning in the Tame Road area of Oldbury.
Suspect Detained in Racially Charged Assault on Sikh Woman
A man in his 30s is in custody following a religiously motivated attack on a Sikh woman in Oldbury.
- A man in his 30s has been arrested in connection with a racially motivated assault.
- The victim, a British-born Sikh woman, reported racist remarks during the attack.
- The incident occurred Tuesday morning in Oldbury, West Midlands.
- Police are continuing their investigation and have appealed for community support.
West Midlands police announced Sunday evening that a man, identified as being in his 30s, was detained. He remains in custody on suspicion of rape. The investigation into the harrowing incident continues, with the victim receiving ongoing support.
What is the latest development in the Oldbury assault investigation?
West Midlands police have arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of rape as part of their ongoing inquiry into the racially motivated attack on a Sikh woman in Oldbury.
The woman, who is British-born and Sikh, recounted to police that she was subjected to racist remarks during the assault. Her alleged assailants reportedly told her, “You don’t belong in this country, get out,” as they attacked her. The incident took place between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
In a statement issued through the Sikh Federation (UK), the victim expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of support from her community. “I want to sincerely thank everyone for supporting me and my family during this very difficult time,” she stated. “We are going through a lot, but the strength and kindness shown by the right people in the community has been incredible, and I can’t thank them enough for being my voice.”
She added, “I would never wish this on anyone. All I was doing was going about my day on my way to work, and what has happened has deeply affected us. Through it all, my family has been my rock, and my community has stood strong beside me.” The victim also conveyed her hope that those responsible are apprehended, saying, “The police are doing their best to find those responsible and I truly hope they are caught so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
The victim, a British-born Sikh woman in her 20s, was allegedly told “You don’t belong in this country, get out” during the attack.
Chief Superintendent Kim Madill of West Midlands police characterized the arrest as a “significant development in the investigation.” She extended thanks to the community for its continued support and urged the public not to speculate as officers work to identify and apprehend all individuals involved.
Previously, police had indicated they were searching for two white men. The first suspect was described as having a shaved head and a heavy build, wearing a dark sweatshirt and gloves. The second man was reportedly wearing a grey top with a silver zip.
Local political representatives voiced their dismay following early reports of the attack. Sarah Coombes, Labour MP for West Bromwich, which encompasses Oldbury, condemned the incident as “absolutely horrible,” asserting that “such violence and hatred has no place in our society.”
Gurinder Singh Josan, Labour MP for Smethwick, had earlier stated the “truly horrific attack” was being treated as a hate crime. Preet Kaur Gill, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, noted she had heard from concerned constituents. She affirmed, “Our Sikh community and every community has the right to feel safe, respected and valued. Racism and misogyny have no place in Oldbury, or anywhere in Britain.”
