Brutal rape of Sikh woman in UK sparks outrage, manhunt for suspects

A young British-born Sikh woman was raped and assaulted in Oldbury, England, in what police are treating as a racially motivated hate crime — a brutal attack that has shaken the Sikh community and reignited concerns over rising racial tensions in the UK.

The woman, in her 20s, was attacked on the morning of September 9 near Tame Road by two white men who, police said, not only raped and beat her but hurled racist abuse, telling her to “go back to your country.” West Midlands Police confirmed the crime is being investigated as “racially aggravated” and launched an urgent manhunt.

One suspect has been described as in his 30s, with a shaved head, wearing a grey zip-up hoodie, black tracksuit bottoms, black trainers, and black gloves. Detectives have appealed for CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell footage from residents and stepped up patrols in Oldbury to reassure locals. No arrests have yet been made.

Community groups, including the Sikh Federation (UK) and Sikh Youth UK, have condemned the attack and voiced anger at what they describe as a muted political response. Anti-racism campaigners say the case exposes the toxic overlap of misogyny and racism, with far-right rhetoric often fuelling such violence.

The assault comes amid a rise in hate crimes targeting South Asian communities, from attacks on Sikh taxi drivers to racially charged street violence. Many residents have criticised mainstream media and political leaders for failing to give the case the visibility it deserves.

Broadcaster Narinder Kaur, writing on X, accused politicians of hypocrisy: “You cannot feed the beast of racism daily and then feign shock when something happens on your side and SILENCE when a brown person is attacked.”

Police have urged anyone with information to come forward via Live Chat or by calling 101, quoting log number 988 of September 9.