Brookfield residents rally after alleged rape of young woman during morning walk

Hundreds of people have taken to the streets, days after a young woman was allegedly raped while walking in Brisbane .

A 23-year-old woman was allegedly attacked during an early morning walk in Brookfield, in the city’s west, about 6.33am on Thursday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Brookfield community rallies after alleged sexual assault

Police allege a stranger on his way to work in another location approached the woman near Brookfield Rd bridge, dragged her into nearby bushes and assaulted her for “some time” before she could escape across a creek and through dense bushland to raise the alarm at the nearby showgrounds.

She was later taken to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a stable condition and treated for injuries sustained in the alleged assault, but has since returned home to her family.

A 32-year-old Raceview man has since been charged with six counts of rape, along with stalking, assault with intent to commit rape, assault occasioning bodily harm and deprivation of liberty.

On Sunday, more than 1000 people from the community walked together in a show of solidarity against violence towards women.

Flowers and handwritten messages were left at the crime scene, as residents spoke openly about how the alleged attack had changed the way they felt about their own neighbourhood, with women saying they were now frightened to walk alone.

“We feel deeply, deeply saddened that this has happened in our neighbourhood,” organiser Nicole Newman told 7NEWS.

Brookfield resident Jade McLeod said she wanted her daughters to grow up without having to question their safety.

“I want to be able to feel safe when I walk,” she said. “I have daughters and I want them to experience safety when they grow up.”

She said women should not have to change their lives because of violence committed against them.

“We can not be controlled by the terror that it causes women,” she said.

The gathering also turned the spotlight on the role of men and the need for more open conversations about attitudes and behaviour.