Hunt for 'forced marriage rapist'
A Bangladeshi man who allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl after forcing her into marriage is believed to have fled Britain.
Police have launched an international manhunt for the suspect, in his forties, who is also believed to have sexually assaulted the girl's 12-year-old sister.
The man is thought to have fled after the girl, who is now 17, contacted police last month over fears she was going to be forced into a second marriage. AWhitehall source said the alleged rape happened more than once.
The sisters, who were both born in Britain, come from an Asian family and live in east London. They cannot be named for legal reasons.
The marriage ceremony is understood to have been carried out at an address in the Bethnal Green area by a Muslim imam.
A 53-year-old woman was arrested on 7 July on suspicion of aiding and abetting rape and assault. She has been bailed to return to an east London police station in September.
