Schoolgirl raped at knife point in London by man posing as police officer

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident in Edmonton

The incident took place in Sandhurst Road, Edmonton, North London (Google Maps)

A 12-year-old girl has been raped at knifepoint in London by a man pretending to be a police officer.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the man stopped the girl as she rode a bicycle in Sandhurst Road, Edmonton, North London, at around 5.30pm on Wednesday afternoon.

He said she matched the description of a shoplifter and he needed to search her.

The suspect then raped her and threatened her with a knife.

Police are linking the assault to an identical approach nearby an hour earlier to another 12-year-old girl, who managed to escape.

The second girl said the man told her she had to come with him to a van as she matched the description of someone he needed to arrest.

He attempted to grab her wrists when he refused, but let go and she was able to run away.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incidents and is being held at a London police station.

Detective Inspector Tracey Cormack, from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences team, told the London Evening Standard: "We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed these offences or think they may have been approached by this man to come forward and report this to the police."