Second man arrested over rape of 11-year-old girl in Enfield

A second man has been arrested in north London over a sex attack on an 11-year-old girl who was dragged into a park and raped on her way home from school.

The man, 18, was arrested at an address in Edmonton yesterday evening on suspicion of raping the girl and remains in custody at a north east London police station.

A 26-year-old man who was arrested earlier yesterday has been bailed pending further inquiries to a date in late December.

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses after the schoolgirl was attacked in Jubilee Park, Enfield, on Friday.

She had caught a 192 bus from school in Enfield at around 4.30pm, and got off in Bury Street at around 5pm before being grabbed as she walked along Galliard Road.

The girl, who police described as petite, finally returned home at around 8pm and was taken to hospital where she needed surgery.

Detective Inspector Simon Ellershaw said: "This was a horrific and unusual attack of a defenceless schoolgirl making her way home via her usual route, along one of Enfield's busiest shortcuts, at the beginning of Friday afternoon rush-hour.

"She says the attack happened for some considerable time - possibly in the region of two to three hours.

"I am appealing to motorists, pedestrians and anyone who may have been using the park between 4.45pm and 8pm, who may have seen a man following a girl in school uniform, to contact us."

He said officers had carried out an "extensive" search of the park and members of the public had already come forward with helpful information.

PA