Woman Raped at Knife Point on Trail in Silver Spring

A woman reported being sexually assaulted during a jog along a popular trail in Silver Spring.

Police confirm a rape investigation is underway following an attack at Northwest Branch Trail late Monday afternoon.

Neighbors on nearby Oakview Drive saw a 20-year-old woman wearing jogging clothes covered in mud, who appeared distraught as she spoke with police officers.

The woman told police her attacker had a knife, forced her off the trail, raped her and fled the scene.

"To be honest, I'm a little uncomfortable using [the trail] by myself," a man who often uses the trail to ride his bike told News4. "You just never know what is going to happen."

The incident happened less than five miles from another sex assault at knife point, which happened Sunday morning in Hyattsville. That suspect doesn't match the description of the suspect in Silver Spring.

The victim in Monday's assault said her attacker was a Latino man with medium build and short hair.

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Police are looking to speak with anyone who was in the area of the trail just after 4 p.m. Monday. Detectives say despite the attack, the trails are safe and are routinely patrolled by police.

On Sunday morning, a jogger reported that a stranger grabbed and pulled her into his car in Fairlington. 

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