Epsom stabbing: Teenage girl 'dragged from Pizza Hut, stabbed and raped'

'Kidnap': The girl was allegedly dragged out of Pizza Hut
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Mark Chandler18 June 2016
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A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, rape and kidnap after a teenage girl was dragged out of a Pizza Hut and stabbed in the stomach, police say.

Surrey Police said a man walked into the Waterloo Road branch in Epsom last night and attacked a member of staff who tried to help the 17-year-old girl.

The man then pulled the teenager out of the restaurant and disappeared with her.

Police descended on the outlet just after 10.30pm and began searching for the girl in streets nearby.

At 10.49pm, they arrested a man in a nearby recreation ground before finding the girl in Pound Lane with a stab wound to her abdomen.

She is currently at St George’s Hospital in Tooting where her condition is described as serious but not life-threatening.

A 32-year-old Epsom man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, kidnap, rape and grievous bodily harm. He is currently being questioned by detectives.

Detective Inspector Nick Chambers said: "This was clearly a very serious incident where a young woman has been subjected to an horrific ordeal and we are in the process of carrying out a thorough and detailed investigation to establish what happened.

"This appears to have been a violent and pre-planned attack which took place in a very public location in the centre of Epsom.”

He said: “A member of staff at Pizza Hut tried to intervene when the man entered the restaurant and suffered injuries to his arm as a result but fortunately his injuries are not believed to be serious.”

Police, who have stepped up their presence in the town centre since the incident, believe the girl knew her alleged attacker.

Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference 45160051625, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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