Man arrested as police launch investigation into ‘serious sexual assault’ in York

A police officer at the scene in Tower Gardens on Sunday. Photograph: YorkMix

A man has been arrested by police investigating a serious sexual assault in York city centre.

Members of the public reported a disturbance involving a group of people, including people involved in sexual activity, in Tower Gardens in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“Officers received the report at around 3.20am and are carrying out extensive enquiries into the incident and into allegations of a serious sexual assault,” North Yorkshire Police said today.

As we reported yesterday, the area was sealed off for several hours while forensic officers worked at the scene.

“A cordon was put in place at the time to allow officers and crime scene investigators to examine the scene of the incident,” the police spokesperson said.

A man in his 20s has been arrested in connection with the incident and has been released on conditional police bail to allow for further enquiries to be carried out.

Anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed the incident but has not yet spoken to the police is asked to get in touch – details below.