Two Arrested in West Midlands for Racially Aggravated Rape of British Sikh Woman

The sexual assault last month had sent shockwaves across the community. (File)

London:

Two individuals, a 49-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman, have been taken into custody on suspicion of racially aggravated rape of a British Sikh woman in Oldbury, located in England's West Midlands region last month.

According to West Midlands Police on Friday, the arrests were made in connection with a second sexual assault case involving a woman in her 30s in Halesowen within the same county on Thursday evening. This second incident is not being classified as racially motivated.

The suspects were subsequently arrested in relation to the attack on the British Sikh victim in her 20s who reported being sexually assaulted on Tame Road in Oldbury, Sandwell, on September 9.

"A 49-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman from Sandwell were arrested this morning on suspicion of rape," stated the police on Friday.

"We were called at approximately 7 pm (local time Thursday) after a woman in her 30s reported she has been attacked in Hurst Green Park. This incident is not being treated as racially aggravated. The man and woman have this afternoon (Friday) subsequently been arrested in connection with a rape on Tame Road, Oldbury on Tuesday, September 9. They remain in custody for questioning," the statement continued.

The September sexual assault, allegedly involving two white male attackers who reportedly told the victim "you don't belong in this country, get out," created significant distress throughout the community.

The UK crime-fighting organization Crimestoppers offered a substantial reward of 20,000 pounds for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the racially aggravated attack. Additionally, British Sikh organizations collaborated on social media to offer a financial reward of 10,000 pounds for any footage that could help secure a conviction of the perpetrators.

The incident was subsequently raised in the UK Parliament, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood leading the condemnation of the attack.

"The horror of a sexual assault motivated by race or ethnicity is absolutely appalling. I am sure that the whole House will join me in condemning such crimes in the strongest possible terms. This government will not stand for any incitement to racial hatred or violence," she stated at the time.