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A Peterborough restaurant has been shut down by police after two teenage girls reported that they were raped.

Babylon Restaurant and Shisha Lounge in Lincoln Road was issued with a temporary closure notice on Wednesday evening (January 15) to close the premises for 48 hours.

This morning (Friday January 17), a further application was made to Peterborough Magistrates’ Court for a full closure order to be granted, which was successful and has been served on the premises this afternoon.

The restaurant will be closed for the next three months as there are ‘reasonable grounds for believing that in the past three months the premises were used for activities related to a specific child sex offence, or the premises are likely to be used for such activities.’

The closure comes after two teenage girls reported being raped last weekend.

Four men, consisting of two 18-year-olds, a 27-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were all arrested in connection with the alleged rape earlier this week, while part of St Paul's Road in Peterborough was cordoned off.

Another 18-year-old man was arrested this morning and remains in custody.

Superintendent Andy Gipp said: “Today’s closure has taken place as part of an ongoing investigation into serious sexual offences against two teenage girls over last weekend.

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“Where we suspect such activity to have taken place, we will not tolerate it and will tackle it robustly in the community. We will continually investigate and identify such places and use this legislation to prevent further offences.”

Failure to comply with the order is a criminal offence which could result in imprisonment for up to three months, a fine, or both.

All four people arrested have been bailed to return to Thorpe Wood Police Station in February.

An 18-year-old man was arrested this morning and remains in police custody.