Ottawa police are investigating the report of a sexual assault in Ottawa’s Sandy Hill neighbourhood early Saturday morning.

Police say a woman in her 20s told them she was walking on Templeton Street near Sweetland Avenue around 1:18 a.m. when she was grabbed by an unknown man and sexually assaulted.

Police say a man in his early 20s witnessed the attack and came to her aid.

The suspect is described as a man of Middle Eastern descent, in his mid to late 20s, standing 6’0” and weighing about 180 lbs.

He was last seen wearing a collared white shirt and jeans. He had short dark hair, some facial hair and smelled strongly of cologne.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Section at 613-236-1222 ext. 5944 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS) or toll free at 1-800-222-8477.