Girl, 12, gang raped in town centre

A girl of 12 has been raped by a gang outside a shopping centre, police revealed.

The girl, who was on her way home shortly after midnight, was attacked by up to five youths near the High Street in Feltham, Middlesex.

She was first assaulted outside a shopping centre at the back of the High Street.

Her attackers then took it in turns to rape her at the back of a nearby McDonald's. A passerby, who found her crying and in an extremely distressed state, rang police for help.

Five youths aged 14 to 18 were later arrested near the scene last Thursday night, all on suspicion of rape.

Detectives regard four of them as "strong suspects". They have been bailed to appear at Hounslow police station on Monday.

Detective Inspector Sean Szerezla, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a horrendous attack on a young girl by a number of youths. The girl was walking alone at the time. There are issues involved in her being on the streets at that time, but that is all I can say at the moment. We are talking to her family about that.

"I want to speak to anyone who may have details about who was responsible for this or anyone who saw or heard anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time."

The victim was seen by a trained rape counsellor and taken to Middlesex Hospital for a medical examination.

She did not sustain independent injuries during the rape and is back with her family in Feltham. The attack happened last Thursday but details have only just been made public.

Teenage thugs roam Feltham town centre in packs routinely looking for trouble and terrorising the public, residents said.

Julie Magahy, manager of the Baker's Oven near where the girl was first set upon, arrived at work last Thursday to find the area behind the shop cordoned off as police conducted a forensic science investigation.

She said: "It's a bit of a shock. Nothing like this has happened before - nothing this close to home anyway. I have a 12-year-old daughter myself."

Mrs Magahy said that the gangs of youths were a problem for the town, which is a few miles from Heathrow airport.

"The area is just getting worse. There are gangs of kids coming in here trying to shoplift. We recognise them now so we watch them, and I tell them to get out."

Mr Szerezla said that some witnesses had already come forward but added that more are needed.

He appealed for anyone with information about the attack to ring Hounslow CID on 020 8247 6160.