A young woman was raped by the driver of what she thought was a private hire taxi in a "terrifying ordeal", police said today.
The 26-year-old woman got into the vehicle after leaving the Hudson Hotel on Hope Street in the west end of Edinburgh.
She was driven from there to Brunstane Road South, where the man is believed to have assaulted her within the car.
Police appealed for information about the incident which happened in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A police spokesman said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim, who is understandably traumatised by what has happened.
"We would like to speak anyone who was in the area of the Hudson Hotel in Hope Street and saw the victim get into a car with the driver at around 2.15am, or who saw her being pulled out of a car in Brunstane Road South in the early hours of Sunday morning."
They urged anyone with information which could help them trace the suspect to contact them.
He is described as black, 5ft 8in, around 30-years-old, with short black hair, and wearing a red t-shirt and jeans.
Police reminded people that all genuine taxi drivers carry identification, and private hire cabs should not stop to collect people without them receiving a prior booking.
They advised people not to enter a vehicle if they are suspicious about its legitimacy, and instead to contact the police.
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