Walsall rape case: What we know so far about the 32-year-old suspect arrested for assaulting Indian-origin woman

Indian-origin woman raped in UK in ‘racial attack’

A 32-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping a 20-year-old Indian-origin woman in what police have described as a racially aggravated attack in Walsall, West Midlands, authorities said on Monday.

According to West Midlands Police, the assault took place on Saturday night in the Park Hall area and was believed to have been motivated by racial hostility. The suspect was detained early Monday in Perry Barr and remains in custody for questioning.

Police described the incident as an “absolutely appalling attack” and confirmed that the survivor is being supported by specially trained officers.

#ARREST | We’ve arrested a man after a woman was raped in Walsall in what we are treating as a racially aggravated attack The 32-year-old was arrested on suspicion of rape just before 7am today in the Perry Barr area. Full details 👉 https://t.co/jX7fVfwZsSpic.twitter.com/edvbs80ug2

— Walsall Police (@WalsallPolice) October 27, 2025

The suspect, dressed in dark clothing at the time of the incident, was captured on CCTV, likely from a nearby park, as police released the footage to help trace him.

Victim is believed to be of Punjabi origin

While officials have withheld details to protect the woman’s identity, community groups and local reports suggest she has Punjabi roots. The Sikh Federation UK confirmed that the victim is a Punjabi woman, saying, “The attacker apparently broke down the door of the house where she was living… West Midlands Police have now had two racially aggravated rapes of young women in their 20s in the last two months and urgently need to find those responsible.”

Public reaction

The attack has drawn widespread condemnation. Labour MP Preet Kaur Gill said she was “deeply shocked and saddened that we are hearing of yet another racially aggravated rape, this time in Walsall,” adding that the West Midlands Police had reported the rape and assault of a young woman in the Park Hall area.

Deeply shocked and saddened that we are hearing of yet another racially aggravated rape this time in Walsall. West Midlands Police have reported a rape and assault of a young woman in her 20s in the Park Hall area, described as racially aggravated. https://t.co/4ynPRGYc2c — Preet Kaur Gill MP (@PreetKGillMP) October 26, 2025

Police have said they are not currently linking this case to any other recent offences, but confirmed that investigations are ongoing.

The latest Walsall attack comes a month after a 20-year-old Sikh woman was allegedly raped in Oldbury, Birmingham, on September 9,  also investigated as a racially aggravated assault. Police arrested a 49-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman in connection with the Oldbury case; both were later released on bail.