London: In a horrific incident, a 17-year-old girl in the UK was raped and stabbed in the stomach after being dragged out of a restaurant by a man in a "violent and pre-planned attack" in a busy town centre.
The 32-year-old man, who according to police's prima facie investigation was known to the victim, entered the Pizza Hut branch in Epsom at around 10.30 pm (local time) and assaulted a member of staff who tried to intervene, before dragging the girl from the building and leaving the area on foot.
The girl, who has suffered a "horrific ordeal", was subjected to the "violent and pre-planned attack" on Friday evening in Epsom, Surrey, police said.
The girl was rushed to a nearby hospital in Tooting where she is in a serious but not life-threatening condition, Surrey Police said.
Police arrested the man in a nearby recreation ground soon after the incident occurred. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, kidnap, rape and grievous bodily harm and is in custody.
Detective Inspector Nick Chambers said the girl had suffered a "horrific ordeal".
"This appears to have been a violent and pre-planned attack which took place in a very public location in the centre of Epsom," Mr Chambers said.
"Epsom on Friday night is a busy place so I am sure passers-by and motorists must have seen this incident unfolding and I would like to hear from anyone who saw anything out of the ordinary in or around Pizza Hut or Court Recreation Ground Friday night."
"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," he said.
The victim and the man are thought to know each other and officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident, he added.
