Police hunt man after reports teens raped on beach

police van parked up in Great Yarmouth.">Qays Najm/BBC

A man has been arrested and police are hunting another suspect after reports two teenage girls were raped on a beach in Great Yarmouth.

Officers were called to South Beach Parade in the Norfolk town shortly after 00:30 BST on Saturday.

A man in his 30s was arrested in Northamptonshire on Sunday on suspicion of rape.

A statement from Norfolk Police said: “A second suspect currently remains outstanding and significant efforts are under way to identify and locate him.”

He is described as white, in his 30s or 40s, with short dark hair and dark facial hair.

The force said he was wearing blue jeans and a dark green jacket with a white stripe on both sleeves.

Ch Insp Nick Paling, Great Yarmouth’s district commander, said: “We recognise how shocking and distressing these incidents are for the victims, their families, and the wider community.

“Specialist officers have been deployed to support both girls as we work through this investigation.”

Qays Najm/BBC

A police cordon put in place near Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach while inquiries were carried out has since been lifted.

Andrew Bird, who had been camping on the beach, told the BBC that he had not heard any commotion overnight, but when he woke up on Saturday morning, a cordon had been put up on a section of the sand.

He said officers told him he was not allowed to pass it, but they could not “divulge any information”.

Paling said there would be an increased police presence in the area as the force carried out “reassurance patrols”.

Norfolk Police has urged witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

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Norfolk Police