A man who violently sexually assaulted a woman in the early hours of Thursday is still at large, Victoria police say.
Police said the woman was approached about 2:30 a.m. by an unknown male at the intersection of Wharf and Johnson streets, then taken to a green space by Wharf Street and Pandora Avenue next to the statue known as the Commerce Canoe.
The woman was threatened and then physically and sexually assaulted, police said.
After the assault, she ran to a nearby group of people and the suspect fled.
An extensive police search failed to locate the man.
Police are asking for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward, and have asked for cellphone, dashcam and CCTV footage.
Contact Victoria police at 250-995-7654, extension 1 or report anonymously to Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477.)
“It takes an immense amount of courage to report sexual offences, and sexualized violence incidents are often under-reported,” police said in a statement. “Our message to those that have been victims of sexualized violence continues to be, we believe you and we are here to support you.”
