Police believe rape three were from local community

Police believe that the three men who subjected a woman to a brutal rape in north Belfast on Friday night were from the local community.

The woman was attacked as she walked through waste ground off the Andersonstown Road at around 11pm on Friday. The victim was hit on the head from behind and held down by two men while a third man carried out the rape.

Police have said that given the topography of the estate in which the rape took place, the attackers would have needed knowledge of the local area in order to make their escape.

The woman was able to provide a description of one of her attackers. He is said to be around 20-years-of-age, about six feet tall, with fair hair – possibly bleached – cut into a crew cut, clean shaven and of slim build with broad shoulders.

Detectives investigating the attack have appealed for anyone who may have seen three men acting suspiciously in the area between 10.30pm and midnight to come forward.

The SDLP's equality spokesperson Patricia Lewsley condemned the attack as a "terrible crime".

Ms Lewsley said: "This was a vicious, depraved attack on a young woman as she walked home. I have spoken to many people in the area who are deeply shocked by the brutality of this attack. There is a sense of outrage in the local community.

"I would appeal to anyone with information about the attack to report it to the PSNI. Those who carried out this terrible crime must be brought to justice and I would urge anyone with information to go to the police."

(GMcG)