Police believe five men bound and raped a woman in a laneway off a major Melbourne thoroughfare and are appealing for two men seen with the woman before the alleged attack to come forward.
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Sexual Crime Squad Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Michael Phyland said the woman, 47, was tied-up with masking tape and sexually assaulted between 4am and 4.30am on Sunday in South Yarra.
The woman then ran naked to nearby Chapel Street where a passer-by helped her and she was taken to hospital.
The victim, who is still in hospital, did not know her attackers and Senior Sergeant Phyland described it as an "opportunistic" crime.
"Police are very concerned about what's happened," he said.
"It's been a very traumatic occurrence for the victim."
He said the woman was not with friends in the lead-up to the assault, nor was she out at bars or clubs in the area.
He said she walked down Grosvenor Street, off Chapel Street, with two men she did not know before she was attacked in the laneway.
Police are looking through security camera footage from businesses in the area.
One of the men is described as aged between 20 and 30 years old, of Islander appearance, 180cm tall and was wearing a black t-shirt with white writing and a checked-shirt with blue jeans.
The second male is aged between 25 and 30 years old, Caucasian in appearance, 175cm tall with short blonde hair and was wearing a black hooded jumper and dark pants.
Police found the victim's clothes at the scene of the disturbing attack during later investigations.
Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
