Man arrested over 'racially motivated' rape

Officers sealed off an area of grassland near Tame Road in Oldbury after the woman reported being attacked

A man has been arrested on suspicion of rape by police investigating reports of a racially motivated attack on a woman in the West Midlands.

The woman, in her 20s, reported being attacked by two men on Tuesday morning near Tame Road in Oldbury.

West Midlands Police said a man in his 30s was detained on suspicion of rape on Sunday evening and was in custody.

Home Secretary and Birmingham Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood urged anyone with information about the attack to speak to police, as she condemned such crimes "in the strongest possible terms".

Speaking in Parliament in response to a question from Smethwick MP Gurinder Singh Josan, she said the horror of a sexual assault motiated by race was absolutely appalling.

The government would not stand for any incitement to racial hatred or violence, she added.

Ch Supt Kim Madill said the arrest was a "significant development in the investigation".

Thanking the community for their support, she said: "The investigation remains ongoing and we would urge people not to speculate as we work to identify and trace all those who may have been involved."

The arrest came hours after members of the Sikh community gathered in protest over the incident.

The victim, who has a right to anonymity, has released a public statement through the Sikh Federation (UK) which said she was "truly humbled" by the love shown by her local community.

Of the attack, she said: "I would never wish this on anyone. All I was doing was going about my day on my way to work, and what has happened has deeply affected us.

"Through it all, my family has been my rock, and my community has stood strong beside me."

West Midlands Police previously said it was looking for two men and wanted "to speak with anyone in the area who may have seen" them.

A force spokesperson had said the men made a racist remark during the attack.