A 23-year-old white British man has been charged with the rape of a woman in the Scottish seaside town of Arbroath, following online speculation that migrants were responsible for the attack.
The man was arrested in connection with the incident, which occurred in the Bridge Street area of Arbroath, Angus, on the North Sea coast, on June 6. He is expected to appear at Forfar Sheriff Court at a later date.
Police Scotland confirmed that the incident in Bridge Street had been incorrectly linked to migrants in online posts. Rumours had circulated on social media about a separate attack in the town the previous weekend, but police stated they had no record of any other sexual assault in Arbroath apart from the one on June 6. However, they did confirm that an assault had taken place.
A police statement said: "We are aware of online posts suggesting this incident involved illegal migrants – this is inaccurate." The statement added: "We have not received any reports of further incidents. There is no ongoing risk to the public and officers are actively engaging with the local community to provide reassurance."
Another Police Scotland spokesperson reported: "There was an assault around 18:35 on Sunday 14 June in Keptie Street, Arbroath, and a report has been sent to the Youth Justice Assessor. There is nothing to suggest any sexual element or that illegal immigrants were involved."
Arbroath, also known as Aberbrothock, is the largest town in the Angus council area, with a population of nearly 24,000. It is located approximately 16 miles northeast of Dundee and 45 miles southwest of Aberdeen.
