A woman in her 20s was attacked between 2am and 4am on Saturday, April 11, outside Epsom Methodist Church on Ashley Road. Surrey Police said a group of men had followed the woman after she left the nearby Labyrinth nightclub. The force said they do not have sufficient information to release a description of the suspects.
Surrey Police clarified that they have not found any evidence yet that the rape took place or that asylum seekers or immigrants were involved. The police urged people not to speculate about the identity of the suspects, as it may lead to tensions.
Protests broke out in Epsom as crowds accused police of failing to release enough information about rape suspects. According to major media reports, protests occurred after rumors circulated online that the suspects involved were asylum seekers. Before the protest, police had released just two official statements since Saturday's rape.
The demonstration escalated into public disorder, with objects thrown at police. According to major media reports, four people were arrested after eggs and beer cans were thrown in the demonstration. Surrey Police confirmed four arrests and warned that further robust action will be taken. Riot police were deployed in Epsom in response to the protest.
Surrey Police said officers have surrounded a residential property and nearby hotels after they were targeted by protesters purporting they housed asylum seekers, but this is inaccurate.
Around 200 residents gathered inside Epsom Methodist Church for the 'Hope for Epsom' service attended by community leaders, police officers, and clergy, according to major media reports. Epsom Methodist Church is to hold a 'community act' on Thursday to raise voices for vulnerable women and victims, as reported by major media.
Downing Street said the prime minister's thoughts were with the victim. A spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer said the police investigation was live and operational decisions were for police to make.
Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said police were leaving 'no stone unturned' in the investigation and that it was 'thorough and diligent.'
In Clapham, gangs of masked teens swarmed the high street, menaced shoppers, stole items, and assaulted emergency workers, with observers noting they were mostly non-white, according to some observers. Police in Clapham issued a dispersal order but did not deploy riot cops or form lines of officers to impel the youths off the streets, based on research from three sources.
Some people suspect the suspects in the Epsom rape were migrants and that police are being cagey about releasing information, according to public suspicions. Officialdom has shown lethargy in recent years in revealing the immigration status and ethnic origins of perpetrators of sexual crimes, based on research from three sources.
The investigation faces several unknowns, including what specific evidence, if any, has been found regarding the alleged rape. Additionally, the identities, nationalities, or immigration statuses of the suspects involved in the alleged rape remain unclear. Other unknowns include the exact reasons for the arrests during the protest, how many people were injured during the protest, and the extent of property damage. Police have not detailed what specific measures are being taken to address community concerns and prevent further unrest.