Four arrested after alleged 'hate-related sexual assault' in Birmingham's Gay Village
Police have arrested four people on suspicion of a hate-related assault on Birmingham's Hurst Street.
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West Midlands Police said the victim, in her 20s, was subjected to a vicious assault, both verbally and physically, and threatened with a knife just before 5:30am on Sunday.
Officers credited "eagle-eyed CCTV operators" with them being able to get the suspects in custody so swiftly.
They said in a statement: "Our CCTV operators spotted the suspicious activity and when the crime was reported almost an hour later, they were able to back-track on the CCTV and direct officers to the suspects."
The four people, aged between 18 and 22, remain in custody for questioning.
West Midlands Police added: "We do not tolerate hate crime in our city and have recently set up a new StreetWatch in Birmingham’s Gay Village – the first of its kind in the country."