London, Sept 13 — A young Sikh woman in her 20s was raped in broad daylight in Oldbury earlier this week, prompting a major police investigation and sparking outrage in the local community. West Midlands Police said the incident, which occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. on September 9 in a park off Tame Road, is being treated as racially aggravated.
According to police reports, the victim was subjected to racist abuse during the assault. She was told to “go back to your own country” by the two attackers, both described as white men. One suspect was heavily built, had a shaved head, and was wearing a dark sweatshirt and gloves. The other was wearing a grey top with a silver zipper.
Chief Superintendent Kim Madill of Sandwell Police acknowledged the fear the incident has generated. “We fully understand the distress and fear this has caused. We are working tirelessly to identify and arrest those responsible,” she said. Madill added that forensic teams and CCTV inquiries are ongoing, while extra patrols have been deployed in the area to reassure residents.
The attack has created shockwaves in the Sikh community. Residents said the assault appeared to be a targeted hate crime and expressed concern about women’s safety in public spaces. A community meeting was convened at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick, where leaders and locals discussed what they called a “deeply worrying” pattern.
Community members also questioned whether the assault was an isolated incident. Later the same day, around 12:15 p.m., a second sexual assault was reported at Kenrick Park in nearby West Bromwich. Police are investigating that case separately but have not yet confirmed any link between the two.
“Anyone with information is urged to contact us,” West Midlands Police said in an appeal for witnesses.
The investigation remains active, with police saying that the priority is to track down the attackers. “We want the community to know we are taking this extremely seriously,” Madill noted.
