MP 'worried' about increase in hate crimes after 'racially aggravated' rape

A Labour MP has said radical are "worried" to spot an summation successful hatred crimes "especially against the Sikh community" pursuing a constabulary entreaty for witnesses aft a "racially aggravated" rape successful Oldbury.

Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, said tons of radical successful her constituency from taste number backgrounds are present asking her wherever "it is inactive safe" to locomotion the streets.

It comes aft West Midlands Police issued a caller entreaty for accusation aft a pistillate successful her 20s reported being attacked by 2 men successful Oldbury connected 9 September.

A antheral successful his 30s who had been arrested connected suspicion of rape has been released connected bail pending inquiries.

Detectives accidental they are looking for 2 achromatic men. One is described arsenic having a shaved head, of dense build, and was reported to beryllium wearing a acheronian coloured sweatshirt and gloves.

The 2nd antheral was reportedly wearing a grey apical with a metallic zip.

"Somebody indispensable person seen thing successful the section area," said Ms Gill.

"I americium really, truly worried," the MP said. "I don't privation to person to look backmost implicit my shoulder."

Ms Gill said she has been "shocked" that constituents who person lived successful the state for respective decades person told her that "for the archetypal clip ever" they person been "racially, oregon verbally attacked".

She said portion she believes immoderate radical present consciousness "emboldened" to beryllium racially oregon verbally abusive, she added: "Nobody would person expected it would get to this extent."

Jas Singh, a typical of the Sikh Federation UK, the organisation supporting the victim, said the information nary 1 has yet been charged has raised "serious concern" successful the community.

He said information has been a interest for "every Sikh I talk to" successful caller days, but added the community has galvanised to connection their solidarity and applicable support.

The Sikh Federation said past week the perpetrators allegedly told the victim during the attack: "You don't beryllium successful this country, get out."

It has present enactment up a £10,000 reward for anyone who has immoderate accusation which whitethorn pb to a conviction.

"Her being a Sikh, she is 1 of the family, and we person an inherent work to help," said Mr Singh.

"We person travel unneurotic to amusement an outpouring of strength."

Chief Superintendent Kim Madill acknowledged the "racially aggravated attack" has caused "fear and concern" for the community, and says the constabulary are "treating it with the utmost seriousness".

She urged radical to travel guardant if they person immoderate accusation astir the incidental which happened astatine astir 8.30am past Tuesday.

"This is simply a cardinal clip for radical going to enactment oregon schoolhouse and we request your assistance if you saw thing that whitethorn assistance our enquiries," she said.