A man is in custody after a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a stranger in Brisbane this morning.
Queensland police say initial investigations indicate a woman in her 20s was walking at Brookfield about 6:30am when she was stopped by a man not known to her and assaulted.
“The man, described as wearing black shorts and a black jumper, then fled on foot,” police said in a statement.
The woman was walking on Brookfield Road, approaching the Brookfield Road bridge.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said the woman was “traumatised” by the alleged assault. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)
Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said the woman was “traumatised” by the incident.
“She was a determined young lady that knew what was occurring to her was horrific,” Detective Superintendent Massingham said.
“She knew her help was some distance away, but she was very lucky to make it through an adjoining creek up towards the showgrounds at Brookfield where she called for assistance.”
A 32-year-old man has been taken into custody.
Anyone who may have been in the area between 5:45am and 6:45am, particularly anyone with dashcam footage, is being urged to contact police.
Police are on the scene at Brookfield after a sexual assault on Thursday morning. (ABC News: Lucy Loram)
Specialist police and detectives have been deployed to the area today.
Detective Superintendent Massingham said local officers would be conducting “enhanced patrols” in the Brookfield and greater western Brisbane areas throughout the rest of the week.
“I say to the people of Brookfield tonight, we are with you, we stand with you, and we are there in numbers to protect you tonight,” he said.
Police have requested assistance from the dive squad, with forensic examinations to continue at the scene overnight.
‘It just has to stop’
Tiana Iuvale, who walks the street daily, said she was “shocked and horrified”.
“It’s not something I expect to happen at all here,” she said.
Brookfield local Tiana Iuvale says it is horrifying. (ABC News: Lucy Loram)
“We should all be able … to go about our lives and do the things we enjoy without worrying about being sexually assaulted. It just has to stop.”
In June, police issued a separate public appeal for Brookfield after an 11-year-old girl told officers she was approached by a man unknown to her on Westridge Street.
“It has been reported the man placed his hand on the girl’s side, causing her to fall, before he returned to his vehicle and left,” police said in a statement at the time.