Extra police patrols after woman raped in lane

Extra police patrols are being carried out in a city centre after a woman has been raped in a lane near a harbour, police said.

The incident happened in the Assembly Rooms Lane area in Bristol at 03:05 GMT on 29 March. The woman told officers the four suspects were Asian and aged in their 20s or 30s.

Det Ch Insp Mark Almond said people would be "understandably shocked and upset to learn of this awful crime".

"Extra high-visibility patrols in the city centre have been carried out this week and these will continue across the bank holiday weekend," he said.

He added: "Rape offences where the suspect is unknown to the victim are not common and we wish to reassure everyone this is being treated with the utmost seriousness."

Almond said the first officers attended the scene within eight minutes of the rape being reported and helped take the victim to a place of safety.

"Her welfare has been of paramount importance to us," he said.

"Since Sunday a large number of investigative inquiries have taken place, including fast-track forensics analysis and reviewing security and CCTV footage.

"Further lines of inquiry are being followed up, and while those are ongoing, we hope there will be people who can help us identify these four men."

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