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Police investigating rape of Oxford schoolgirl renew public appeal

Police investigating the abduction and rape of a 14-year-old schoolgirl in Oxford say they are following a number of "significant" lines of enquiry.

Officers have renewed an appeal for help from the public and say that so far they are not linking the attack to any other incidents.

Detective Superintendent Chris Ward said Thames Valley Police's major crime unit had received a "substantial" amount of calls since Thursday.

He added: "Specially trained officers continue to offer this very vulnerable victim support, and we are slowly and sensitively trying to piece together more information from the victim to aid the investigation."

The girl, dressed in her school uniform, was grabbed "in a bearhug" by two white men driving a silver car at around 8.25am on Wednesday morning.

She was found knocking on doors nearly four hours later, more than a mile away from where she was grabbed on Marston Ferry Road in Summertown.

Det Supt Ward said it was not clear whether the teenager escaped her attackers or was let go.

He told Sky News: "She was grabbed in what I would describe as a bearhug and forced into the vehicle."

Det Supt Ward added: "I believe it was a random attack, I don't believe she knows who the (attackers) are."

The girl was said to be "extremely distressed and upset" after the attack.

Police have stepped up patrols in the area and urged parents to make sure their children walk to school in groups.

Local resident Fiona Mulliner said she was very concerned about the safety of her three children.

She said: "I've been out to buy high-vis things that they can wear when they walk or on their bikes because they sometimes stay at their grandma's flat and they walk or cycle to school.

"I just would really hope that the schools and heads of department have the power and capacity to implement - perhaps bring police in - to empower the children with self-defence tactics in their hour of need so that they can remember what to do because you never know what's going to happen."

:: Anyone with information is asked to contact Thames Valley Police on 101, quoting URN 1631 28/09/16.