A man in his thirties has been taken into custody on suspicion of sexual assault following a report by a Sikh woman about a racially motivated incident while she was on her way to work. The victim, a British-born Sikh in her twenties, informed authorities that she was subjected to a racist comment during the assault that occurred in the Tame Road area of Oldbury, West Midlands, on Tuesday.
According to the Sikh Federation (UK), the perpetrators allegedly made derogatory remarks to the woman while assaulting her between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., stating, “you don’t belong in this country, get out.” West Midlands Police disclosed that the man was apprehended on Sunday evening and is currently under custody. Previously, the police had been seeking two white men believed to be connected with the assault.
Chief Superintendent Kim Madill expressed gratitude to the community for their continued support, labeling the arrest as a significant breakthrough in the investigation. She urged the public not to speculate while efforts are made to identify and locate all individuals involved.
In a statement released through the Sikh Federation (UK), the victim expressed her appreciation for the overwhelming support received from the local community as she copes with the aftermath of the incident. She highlighted the strength and kindness exhibited by individuals in her community, emphasizing the impact of the incident on her and her family.
Gurinder Singh Josan, the local Labour MP for Smethwick, had previously characterized the incident as a hate crime, describing it as “truly horrific.” Individuals with relevant information about the incident are encouraged to contact the police via 101, quoting log 798 or 9 September.