FARGO - A 26-year-old man is charged with sexual assault after allegedly attacking a 16-year-old girl in broad daylight Saturday.
Police say Bashir Noor, 26, of Fargo, approached the girl, whom he did not know, Saturday afternoon in the 100 block of 23rd Street South. He then allegedly pulled her into a concealed area and sexually assaulted her.
She got away and alerted passers-by in the area, who chased down Noor until police arrived.
The girl was attended to at the nearby Somali Business Center in Fargo. She was then taken to the hospital as a matter of course, but did not sustain other serious injuries, Sgt. Chris Helmick said.
He said Noor, who is charged with gross sexual imposition, indicated that he knew the victim, but police don't believe that's the case.
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Noor's only prior offense was a traffic ticket from February. He was cooperative when officers arrested him, Helmick said, and is currently being held at the Cass County Jail.
The victim's last address was in Moorhead, Helmick said.
He said sexual assaults by strangers - especially in such brazen fashion - are rare.
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Readers can reach Forum reporter Marino Eccher at (701) 241-5502
