Kensington rape: son of envoy claims immunity

The 16-year-old victim was grabbed as she waited at a bus stop by a 5ft 5in man near Kensington Palace in the early hours of Friday.

The attacker, who claimed he had a knife, forced the girl into nearby Kensington Gardens and subjected her to a 20-minute ordeal.

Police officers said the girl was "utterly traumatised". The 18-year-old Mongolian envoy's son, who cannot be named, was arrested two days later after police apparently found a match on the DNA database.

Last night he was being questioned at a central London police station but said he was claiming immunity under the 1961 Vienna Convention.

The convention allows staff to escape prosecution in foreign countries.

The girl was approached as she waited for a bus a short distance from the Albert Hall at about 1.25am. Detectives believe the white college student was "compelled" by the man to go with him into the pitch-black, closed park, where he raped her and stole her money.

He then fled into Kensington High Street. His victim managed to get to a public phone and called a nightclub, where staff contacted police. She was taken to hospital for treatment.

Investigating officer Acting Detective Superintendent Martin Johnson said: "This was a particularly serious attack that has left the victim utterly traumatised. The victim was approached and assaulted as she waited for a bus in Kensington Road, between Victoria Road and De Vere Gardens.

"She was taken into the park and that is where the sexual assault took place. The park does close at midnight, but because of the demeanour of the attacker, the victim felt compelled to go with him.

"At that time of the night it is very dark in the park. The road is well lit, but passers-by cannot see anything just beyond the streetlights."

The attack comes after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith admitted she would feel unsafe walking around Kensington and Chelsea late at night.

In an interview at the weekend, Ms Smith was asked whether she would go out by herself at night in Hackney. She replied: "No, why would I do that? But I never would have done, at any point in my life. I just don't think it's a thing that people do."

She was also asked if she would feel unsafe walking around an area such as Kensington and Chelsea and replied: "I wouldn't walk around at midnight. I'm fortunate that I don't have to."

Ms Smith later explained: "What I actually said was I have walked on my own, not now of course because I'm not allowed to because of my police protection, but both in London and in my constituency I have in the recent past been willing to do that.

"What I also said - and I think most women would recognise this - is that you don't walk in areas that you don't know in any circumstances."

A Scotland Yard spokesman today confirmed the investigation was ongoing.

Anyone with information should contact police on 020 7321 9434.