Four masked men sought after "horrific" knifepoint sexual assault in Leeds
Police are also investigating five incidents of harassment - believed to be linked to the crime
Police say they are trying to find a group of four masked men after a woman had a knife held to her throat during a sexual assault in Leeds.
The incident happened on Monday (December 8) along a pathway between Old Run View and West Grange Road in the Belle Isle area.
The victim was walking at around 10:50am when she was approached by two electric bikes carrying four males dressed in black clothing and balaclavas.
One of the men threatened her with a knife before carrying out the sexual assault. The group then fled the scene on bikes.
The assault follows five separate harassment or assault incidents reported to West Yorkshire Police over the last month, all believed to involve the same group of males and to be racially motivated.
The first of these happened on November 12 between 3pm and 3:30pm, with others occurring primarily at around 9am or early in the afternoon in the same area.
Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Freeman of West Yorkshire Police said: “We are appealing for information about these incidents and the four males we believe were involved in them."
"This was a particularly horrific incident for the victim to endure and clearly shows an escalating pattern of targeted behaviour.”
Officers are particularly keen to hear about sightings of individuals riding e-bikes and wearing masks or balaclavas around Belle Isle.
Anyone with information can contact West Yorkshire Police on 101.