FIVE men have been arrested in connection with the vicious graveyard gang rape of a deaf woman, who cannot speak, following a search of two properties in York.

The raids took place at 7am this morning in Leeman Road in the city, and the suspects who are all in their early 20s, were taken to Selby police station.

No charges had been made as the Evening Press, which has run a city-wide poster campaign to support the investigation, was published.

The police action followed the repeated rape of a 36-year-old woman in the grounds of St Martin's Church in the Micklegate area in the early hours of Sunday, November 13.

The woman had been drinking in the Reflex bar on Saturday night, November 12, before leaving with a man.

The attack is believed to have happened between 1am and 4am, when people were heading home from the venue.

The victim is deaf and cannot speak, preventing her from screaming for help during her ordeal.

Detective Inspector Jon Reed, of York Police is leading the investigation into what he earlier described as "a repeated serious sexual assault by six men who were all involved in the offence".

He told the Evening Press today: "As a result of our on-going investigation, five people were arrested at 7am in the Leeman Road area of York.

"We also searched two properties in Leeman Road. They have been taken to Selby Police station because there are so many of them, and they will be interviewed over the course of the day."

However, he renewed police appeals for witnesses to come forward.

Police are still trying to trace a sixth suspect who is also believed to have taken part in the attack.

They also want to hear from the good Samaritan who helped put the woman in a car in Micklegate shortly afterwards.

The driver of the car which already had a male passenger took her to the Huntington Road area of the city.

Despite several appeals through the Evening Press, none of the three witnesses have come forward.

Det Insp Reed said the woman had told officers she got into a taxi after the attack and paid a fare.

However the lack of response to appeals has led detectives to widen their inquiry.

They now want to hear from anyone who gave a lift to the woman in the early hours of Sunday morning.

They could all hold vital information, such as the time of the attack.

A dedicated incident telephone line is still open to take calls about the attack.

Anyone who was in Reflex, or in the area of Micklegate, George Hudson Street and St Martin's Lane between 9pm on Saturday and 6am on Sunday should phone police on 01609 768111.

Updated: 09:34 Wednesday, November 23, 2005