A manhunt has begun for a rapist who attacked a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Primrose Hill Park in London.
The girl alerted police officers who were on patrol on nearby Regents Park Road at around 11pm last Friday to tell them she had been raped.
She was airlifted to hospital by London Air Ambulance.
A crime scene is in place at the park. No arrests have been made yet.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘Officers on patrol were flagged down by a 16-year-old girl in Regents Park Road at 22:50hrs on Friday, 11 April who reported that she had been raped in Primrose Hill.
‘She was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service. She is being supported by specialist officers.
‘A crime scene is in place in Primrose Hill. No arrests have been made. Enquiries continue.’
Anyone who has information for police is asked to call 101 or message @MetCC, quoting CAD 8380/11APR.
They can alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously via their website or by calling 0800 555 111.
Primrose Hill has long been known as one of London’s trendiest and most upmarket neighbourhoods, with streets lined with luxury homes and stunning views of the capital in its namesake park.
It has long been the favoured hangout of Hollywood, supermodel and rock’n’roll royalty, such as the ‘Primrose Hill set’, a group of celeb locals in the mid-nineties including Kate Moss and Jude Law.
But in recent years the area has become riven with division over fears about rising crime, including violence, anti-social behaviour, phone thefts and shoplifting.
Royal Parks, which runs the 62-acre Grade II-listed green space, warned crowds to stay away on New Year’s Eve last year, with Primrose Hill a typical viewpoint for London’s annual fireworks display.
It came after tragedy struck on New Year’s Eve 2023, when 16-year-old Harry Pitman was stabbed to death with a hunting knife at the top of Primrose Hill as people gathered to watch the fireworks.
Local figures, as well as officials, have described Harry’s death as an isolated incident – but traders and residents in the area have raised concerns about crime levels in the neighbourhood.
