London, Oct 27 (HS): The West Midlands Police have launched an urgent manhunt for a white male suspect following the racially aggravated rape of a 20-year-old woman, believed to be of Indian heritage, in Walsall, northern England.

Officers were called to the Park Hall area on Saturday evening after reports of a distressed woman in the street. Police confirmed that the assault is being treated as a “racially aggravated attack” and released CCTV footage of the suspect as part of a public appeal for information.

“This was an absolutely appalling attack on a young woman, and we are doing everything possible to arrest the person responsible,” said Detective Superintendent Ronan Tyrer, who is leading the investigation.

Tyrer added that teams are recovering evidence and building a profile of the attacker, urging anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage from the area to come forward.

The suspect has been described as a white man in his 30s, with short hair, wearing dark clothing at the time of the incident.

While the police have not confirmed the victim’s identity, local community groups claim the woman is of Punjabi origin. They have expressed concern over the incident, which comes just weeks after the racially motivated rape of a British Sikh woman in nearby Oldbury.

“At this stage, we are not linking this attack to any other offences,” Tyrer said, noting that specialist officers from the Public Protection Unit, local police, and forensic teams are working round the clock to identify the suspect.

Chief Superintendent Phil Dolby of Walsall Police said officers are focused on supporting investigators and maintaining community reassurance.

“Walsall is a diverse area, and we understand the fear and concern this awful attack will cause. Our officers are engaging with community members, and there will be an increased police presence in the area,” Dolby said.

The Sikh Federation UK condemned the attack, noting that two racially aggravated rapes of young women in their 20s have occurred in the West Midlands within two months. The organisation urged police to bring those responsible to justice swiftly.

Earlier, police investigating the Oldbury case had made several arrests, though the suspects were later released on bail as inquiries continue.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar