A man in his thirties has been taken into custody on suspicion of rape following a reported racially motivated assault on a Sikh woman while she was heading to work. The victim, a British-born Sikh in her twenties, recounted that a racist comment was directed at her during the assault in the Tame Road area of Oldbury, West Midlands, on Tuesday.

The attackers allegedly verbally assaulted the woman, stating “you don’t belong in this country, get out,” as they committed the assault between 8am and 8:30am, according to the Sikh Federation (UK). West Midlands Police confirmed the man’s arrest on Sunday evening, where he remains detained. Initially, authorities were seeking two white men believed to be linked to the incident. Chief Superintendent Kim Madill expressed gratitude to the community for their unwavering support, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the investigation and advising against speculation while efforts continue to identify all involved parties.

In a statement conveyed through the Sikh Federation (UK), the victim expressed profound gratitude for the overwhelming support and love demonstrated by her local community as she copes with the aftermath of the incident. She conveyed her appreciation, saying, “I am truly touched by the compassion and backing my family and I have received during this challenging period. The community’s solidarity and kindness have been remarkable, and I am immensely grateful for their advocacy.”

Reflecting on the ordeal, the victim shared, “I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone. I was simply going about my day en route to work, and the repercussions have deeply impacted us. Throughout this ordeal, my family has been my pillar of strength, and my community has stood firmly by my side. The authorities are diligently working to apprehend those accountable, and I sincerely hope they are brought to justice to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.”

Earlier, Gurinder Singh Josan, the local Labour MP for Smethwick, characterized the incident as a “truly horrific attack” being treated as a hate crime. Individuals with relevant information are urged to contact the police at 101, quoting log 798 or dated 9 September.