A teenager was grabbed by two masked men while walking down an alleyway and raped, police have said.

The 18-year-old woman was attacked by two men wearing gloves and face coverings in Peckham, south-east London, on Thursday evening.

The victim was walking down an alleyway off Elm Grove, near Peckham Rye station, shortly after 10:20pm when she was approached from behind by two males who took her to Holly Grove, where they raped her, the Metropolitan Police said.

The woman is being supported by specialist officers.

The force, which received the rape report shortly before 1am on Friday, has commenced a manhunt and has issued a public appeal for witnesses.

Detective Superintendent Clair Kelland said: “The investigation into this incident is fast-paced and ongoing and involves an extensive crime scene.

“We would like to speak to anyone who was in the area of Peckham Rye Station between 10pm and 11pm last night who saw anything that might assist our investigation.”

Nearby neighbours to the park said they “saw and heard nothing” about the incident until they woke up to find the police tape.

Locals report ‘spike in danger’

A woman named Emma said: “My husband came home around 10pm last night and didn’t see anything. It was only when he went for work this morning that he told me the park and station were all taped off.

“All he said was that there had been an incident. I thought it was a stabbing.

“When I read what happened, I was shocked. It’s scary. It makes me not want to leave the house.”

Locals said the area has recently seen a “spike in danger”.

Pablo Serrano, 22, who works as a waiter at a restaurant near the station, said: “Honestly, my boss has always been worried about the girls at the restaurant going home late at night, but with the pandemic the groups hanging around the station have gotten worse.”