'We are in shock - but we won't stand for this': Residents speak out after 'racially motivated' rape in Walsall

But they are also determined to highlight the attack, which police are treating as racially aggravated, and escalate action to make sure everyone in the community is safe.

A 32-year-old man was arrested in the Perry Barr area on suspicion of rape earlier on Monday and was in custody for questioning.

The attack comes in the wake of a rape in Oldbury in September which is also being treated as racially aggravated, and one in Halesowen earlier this month.

Police arrested a man, aged 49 and a woman, aged 65 over the attacks in Oldbury and Halesowen. They were later bailed pending further enquiries.

Yesterday (Monday) a woman with a banner saying 'we stand with you sister' was seen in Park Hall, close to where the most recent attack took place. Although she did not wish to be identified, she spoke to the Express & Star and said she worked as an independent sexual violence advisor.

She said: "I am standing here scared this morning after what happened on Saturday but I had to come and make a stand to support the victim and her family after this awful happening.

"These are our women and our community, suffering racially aggravated rapes.

"People think they have power over us and are causing fear in the community but I want them to know we're not going to stand for this.

"I want the local authority, the Government and the police to bring about systemic change. We know the police are acting quickly but this is the second racially motivated rape in recent weeks and it is going to spread across the country unless something is done to prevent it.

"The community are trying to raise awareness, the gurdwara in the area for example is trying to get women to be more careful - but why should we have to do that? They should be able to walk home from a bus stop or anywhere knowing they are safe."

Sandeep Singh-Sohal is part of a community group in the Park Hall area which communicates via WhatsApp over five zones. He has lived near to where the attack happened since 2002 and was supporting the family of the victim over the weekend, with other residents of the estate. 

They immediately offered a reward of £5,000 for information leading to finding the culprit and are planning to hand out attack alarms to women across the estate.

Mr Singh-Sohal said: "This has been horrific and an innocent woman has been attacked in her own home - we are doing all we can to help her and her family who are obviously still in shock and we are trying to be proactive in highlighting the issue of racially motivated rape.

"No matter what colour a person is, what religion or faith they are, there is no excuse for them not to feel safe in this community or any. We have a very good neighbourhood group and will continue to support the family as well as highlighting the issue at as high as level we can."

His father Gurmeet Singh-Sohal represents the area as a Conservative councillor for the Paddock ward and said he would be raising the issue of safety with colleagues and the leaders of Walsall Council in the coming days.

Birmingham MP Preet Kaur Gill took to social media after the attack to speak out against 'racially aggravated' sexual violence in the West Midlands, while Wendy Morton, the MP for Aldridge-Brownhills which covers Park Hall, said she would raise the matter with the West Midlands Police and Crime Commisioner (PCC).

She said: "I was truly shocked to learn of this incident and my support is with the victim and course the family and community. I will raise the issue with the office of the PCC because of the nature and gravity of the attack and the fact it is not the first in recent weeks."