Video: How many other women were targeted by Leeds city centre rape gang?

Detectives believe the men harassed a number of other women in the hours leading up to the rape. Today they released CCTV of one woman being approached near the Clas Ohlson shop on the corner of New Briggate and the Headrow by two men who spoke to her and appear to say something which offended her.

The woman is seen to walk off along New Briggate and is followed for a short time by the two men.

Thirty minutes later, a group of men, described as dark skinned, grabbed a 22 year-old woman and subjected her to what police have described as a “serious sexual assault”.

The incident is being treated as a “very, very worrying stranger attack” by police. The victim is said to be so traumatised she has refused to allow her parents, who live outside the city, to be told of her ordeal.

Police believe she was targeted by a group of up to four men. As she left the Hi-Fi club in the city centre the men made sexually suggestive comments.

Shortly afterwards, as she walked towards Vicar Lane for a taxi, she was attacked in an alleyway behind Debenhams. It is understood she was raped by one, or possibly two, of the men, who afterwards ran off in the direction of Briggate.

Police have appealed to women planning a night out in the city to stay with friends and “look after each other”.

Det Supt Paul Taylor, of the Homicide and Major Inquiry Team, said: “This is an extremely serious incident involving a group of males who have attacked a lone woman before at least one of them subjected her to a serious sexual assault.

“I am appealing to any other lone women who may have been approached by this group of possibly four males to contact police as soon as they can. Information they have could be vital to tracing these males.

“It is also possible that other members of the public may have seen the group in and around the Fish Street or Vicar Lane areas, and I would also ask for anyone who thinks they have information to contact us.

“Incidents of this nature are very rare, but it is crucial that anyone with information that can help our inquiries comes forward as soon as possible so we can find those responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide and Major Inquiry Team on 0845 6060606.