Two men – one Iraqi and one Lebanese – have been charged with sex offences against two schoolgirls in a Sussex town.
The pair, both 19, were arrested on Wednesday morning after police swooped on an address in Crawley.
Sussex Police said it received a report that the two girls, 15 and 16, had been sexually assaulted in a car park on Parkside, next to the town’s memorial gardens.
In a statement, the force said officers attended and safeguarded the victims, before the men were arrested and taken into custody.
The duo have now been charged, police added.
Iraqi national Ali Farahang, who lives on Hunter Road in Crawley, has been charged with attempted rape and human trafficking under the Modern Slavery Act.
Lebanese Adam Maina, who lives on Bath Road in London, has been charged with rape and human trafficking under the same Act.
After a hearing at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, both men were remanded in custody.
They are due to appear before a crown court at a later date.
Sussex Police Superintendent Rachel Glenton said: “The victims will continue to receive the full support of specialist officers as the court proceedings continue.
“We are asking anyone who can help with our enquiries to report online or via 101, quoting Operation Pleat.”
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