Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault in York city centre.
The Coppergate car park remains closed and a nearby footpath connecting Piccadilly to the Castle Car Park is cordoned off after the reported incident at about 7pm on Wednesday (September 30).
North Yorkshire Police said the alleged victim is being supported by specially trained officers while detectives investigate the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Detectives are urging a man seen in the city centre at the time of the alleged sexual assault to come forward, saying he may have important information to help the investigation.
The man is described as white and wearing a pink t-shirt with a black circular logo on the front.
A police spokesperson said the alleged victim is unable to recall the exact location of the reported assault, as they urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
Senior investigating officer Matt Wilkinson, of North Yorkshire Police, said detectives are “carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding what happened”.
“The victim is being supported by specially trained officers while our investigation continues,” he said.
Mr Wilkinson said police are “particularly keen” to identify the man who was in the area at the time of the reported sexual assault.
“We believe he may have important information which could assist our investigation, and I would urge him to come forward and speak to us,” Mr Wilkinson said.
“I would also urge anyone who was in York city centre at around 7pm yesterday evening and saw or heard anything that could assist our investigation to contact us.
“Even if you think the information you have is insignificant, please get in touch. It could prove important to our enquiries.”
Workers in the Piccadilly area said the cordon was in place as they arrived for shifts starting on Thursday.
Jackie Marshall, who works at Next in St Mary's Square, said: "I was dropped off close to the hotel in Tower Street and we came up the back way and then down the alleyway towards the Piccadilly entrance but were told by police it was closed, and then we saw that the pedestrian entrance to the car park in St Mary's Square was also shut."
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A member of staff at Primark said she noticed the police tape in Piccadilly when she arrived for her shift at 5.45am.
Staff at the Fenwick delivery entrance in Coppergate said they became aware of the cordon at around 8.30am.
Sainsbury's Local staff next door also said the cordon was already in place when they arrived for work.
Anyone with information that could help police is asked to phone 101 quoting reference number 12260192537.
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