Police launch appeal after teenager raped on Princes St
Police have launched an investigation after the 18-year-old was subjected to a serious assault in Princes Street at around 4am yesterday.
A cordon was put in place on a stretch of the shopping area between Frederick Street and Hanover Street while forensic investigation was conducted.
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Hide AdThe incident is not currently being linked to a spate of recent sex attacks in Edinburgh, including assaults on young women in Balerno and Craiglockhart Road last month, a Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed.
The victim is being supported by the authorities while detectives establish the exact circumstances of the crime.
A police spokeswoman said: “Police in Edinburgh are investigating following a report of a serious sexual assault of an 18-year-old woman, which occurred on Princes Street around 4am on Saturday 12 September. Anyone with information which can assist with the ongoing enquiry is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
The attack comes just two weeks after a 25-year-old man was raped in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, on 27 August.
Reports of sexual assaults in Edinburgh – including rapes – have risen by 70 per cent for April to June, according to unaudited management figures from Police Scotland.
The number of cases being solved has remained steady, with seven in ten being detected. However, police attribute a large proportion of the hike to rising numbers of reports of online sex crimes and historic incidents.