Toronto police have released photographs of five men they suspect of being connected to a New Year's Day sex assault that took place in a downtown hotel room.
The group of men met two women at the Prince's Ball party being held at Exhibition Place's Automotive Building. Police say the men and women shared a cab at the end of the night, getting off at the Marriott Hotel on Bloor Street, just east of Yonge Street, where the women were staying.
The women, both in their 20s, filed a report with police on Jan. 1, saying they had been sexually assaulted in their hotel room sometime after 3 a.m.
"We are at the initial stages of the investigation. We believe that they are strangers, but that they met at the party," said Det. Tony Charles of the Toronto Police.
Police have released photos of the suspects, but investigators would not say where they were taken or how they were obtained. The men in the photographs are wearing suits and appear to be at a party in a nightclub.
"At this point the photographs are evidence and I'm not prepared to discuss the evidence," said Det. Const. Melinda McAskill, with the Toronto police sex crimes unit, at a news conference Wednesday.
She said she is hoping the public can help police identify the suspects. The men are also being encouraged to turn themselves in.
McAskill would also not comment on whether it is suspected the victims were drugged.
"We're still in the preliminary stages of the investigation," she said.
The suspects are described as having light brown complexions, with medium heights and medium builds. Police believe they are between the ages of 25 and 30 years old. They all have short brown hair and brown eyes and were all wearing suits at the party.
Police are also asking anyone who may know the suspects to contact investigators at 416-808-4040 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS.
With a report from CTV Toronto's John Musselman
