Winnipeg police seeking suspect after preteen girl sexually assaulted at knifepoint

Winnipeg police seeking suspect after preteen girl sexually assaulted at knifepoint

Police describe suspect as 30-40 years-old, with short dark hair and a moustache, driving 4-door brown sedan

Winnipeg police are looking for a suspect after a preteen girl was sexually assaulted at knifepoint in the city's North End area early Saturday morning.

Officials with the service's child abuse unit received a report that a preteen girl was the victim of a serious sexual assault near Manitoba Avenue and Salter Street on Saturday morning, police said in a news release.

The girl was walking on Manitoba Avenue, between Salter and Andrews streets, around 3 a.m. when she was approached by a man in a vehicle. He lured her into the car by promising to provide drugs and alcohol, police said.

The man then drove the girl to a nearby alley, where he threatened her at knifepoint and sexually assaulted her, police said.

The girl fled to a nearby family member's house and police were called.

Child abuse unit investigators are looking for a suspect. Police described the man as between 30 and 40 years-old, with short dark hair and a moustache. He was driving a four-door brown coloured sedan at the time of the incident, police said.

Anyone with information or video footage related to this incident is asked to contact investigators at 204-986-3296. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS or winnipegcrimestoppers.org.

Support is available for survivors of sexual assault through WPS Victim Services at 204-986-6350 and the Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line at 204-786-8631.