Woman raped by several men outside church

Woman raped by several men outside church

Authorities have confirmed that a young woman was sexually assaulted by multiple individuals outside a church following her departure from a nightclub in Surrey. The incident took place between 2:00 and 4:00 BST on Saturday, as the victim, in her early 20s, recounted being followed after leaving the Labyrinth Epsom venue.

The attack is thought to have occurred near the Epsom Methodist Church on Ashley Road. Det Insp Aine Matthews noted the severity of the event, adding that the victim is receiving support from specialized units.

“The investigation is still in its initial phase,” Matthews added. “They are progressing swiftly to gather information about the suspects and will provide updates as soon as possible.”

Police currently lack full descriptions of the perpetrators but are conducting thorough inquiries to pinpoint their identities and locations. They are requesting statements from anyone who was present in the vicinity between 2:00 and 4:00 BST on Saturday and might have encountered or interacted with a woman in her early 20s who appeared to be in distress.

Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to reach out to the police. For updates, follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Submit story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us at 08081 002250.