Four men have been detained following allegations that a teenage girl was drugged and sexually assaulted in a south-west London park on Thursday morning.
The suspects, whose ages range from 24 to 41, were arrested after police responded to an incident at Fishponds Park in Surbiton shortly before 7.15am.
Metropolitan Police officers took the men into custody on suspicion of various offences including rape, sexual assault and administering substances with intent to commit sexual crimes.
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The alleged attack prompted a significant police response, with forensic investigators examining the park throughout Thursday.
Four men have been detained following allegations that a teenage girl was drugged and sexually assaulted in a south-west London park on Thursday morning
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The youngest suspect, a 24-year-old, faces charges of sexual assault and administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual offence.
Two other men, aged 35 and 36, were each arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault and administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual offence.
The oldest suspect, aged 41, was detained on suspicion of rape.
All four men remain in police custody whilst the investigation continues.
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The victim, whose age has not been disclosed by authorities, is receiving care from officers with specialist training in supporting sexual assault survivors.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "We understand this news is concerning for the community and we will be increasing patrols in the area."
Detectives are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward to assist their investigation.
Members of the public who may have witnessed anything suspicious or have information about the incident are asked to contact police on 101, referencing CAD 1207/21AUG.
Metropolitan Police officers took the men into custody on suspicion of various offences including rape, sexual assault and administering substances with intent to commit sexual crimes (stock image)
| GETTYLatest figures show that crime in London remains a pressing issue, with 951,803 offences recorded across Greater London in the 12 months to March 2025.
While homicides fell by 9 per cent (from 114 to 104 killings) and both residential burglaries (-10 per cent) and violent offences (-6 per cent) declined, other categories surged.
Theft rose by 28 per cent, driven in large part by mobile phone thefts, which hit a record high of over 81,000 incidents last year - around 40 per cent of all such cases in Europe.
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