Beeston rape police say 'no family loyalty' over attack

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-31789878

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Police investigating the violent rape and attempted murder of a woman in Leeds have appealed to the community for help, saying "this is no time for family loyalty".

The 18-year-old was waiting at a bus stop and "left for dead" said police, treating the case as attempted murder.

She was attacked near Malvern Road and Beeston Road at 22:40 GMT on Friday.

Officers said both the victim and the attacker were Asian and added this was not a "racially-motivated attack".

The woman was dragged into a garden and raped, suffering head injuries and a suspected broken hip in the assault.

Police said they were looking for an Asian man in his early 20s with a slim build and dark receding hair, in connection with the attack.

Det Ch Insp Elizabeth Belton said: "I would appeal to anyone who saw a man with blood on his shirt in the area that night.

"I would encourage people to think - was there something out of place - or did someone come home with blood on their shirt?

"This is no time for family loyalty - this was an horrific incident and the victim is lucky to be alive.

"This is a crime that has shocked the local community.

"We carried out an information seek last night in the area and people told us how disgusted they were at what happened.

"I also want to put an end to unhelpful speculation that this was a racially motivated attack - the victim in this was Asian, as is the person we want to speak in connection with the incident. This was not racially motivated.

"I am appealing directly to the community to help solve this terrible crime and we have a number of points we need the public's help with."

Officers said they wanted to speak to a woman who had been standing at the same bus stop as the victim before getting on to a bus.

Ms Belton said officers thought it was either a number 1 or number 74 bus the woman caught.

She added: "We also want to speak to man seen running around the Beeston area on Friday night.

"We also want to hear from anyone who saw a man matching the description already issued who was acting suspiciously.

"We think the man has been in the area for some time before the incident and may have attracted attention."