Massive reward offered to help find predator who viciously bashed and raped a young backpacker at Cable Beach, Broome ‘bush doof’ party

Police in Western Australia have offered a $250,000 reward for information that leads them to a man they believe violently attacked a backpacker at a beach rave party.

According to police, the 31-year-old woman was punched in the head and sexually assaulted on the sand dunes of Cable Beach in Broome on May 29, 2022.

The woman was partying with about 200 partygoers during the psy-trance ‘bush doof’ when an unknown man approached her while she was relieving herself in the nearby sand dunes between 4.30 and 5am.

He then hit her on the head several times with a stone and assaulted her.

She suffered serious facial injuries in the attack.

“This was a random and violent attack on a young woman and she continues to live with the aftermath of the incident every day,” Detective Constable Luke Fowler of the WA Special Crime Squad said.

“Someone in the community knows something. This amount of money has the potential to change someone’s life while helping law enforcement and the victim get much-needed answers.”

The Special Crime Squad described the man as dark-skinned, of slim build and between 170 and 177 cm tall.

The woman was assaulted and sexually abused in the dunes at a party at Cable Beach, Broome

“It happened almost in plain sight, just behind a sand dune where the incident occurred, so just yards from where people were gathered and listening to music,” Sergeant Bryan Beck said at a news conference at the time.

Despite her serious injuries, the woman managed to drag herself back to the party and alert the organisers, before being taken to hospital in Broome in a critical condition as the party continued.

It is believed that the man immediately fled and disappeared into the dunes.

More than 100 people have reportedly told police they attended the event in 2022.

A man told Daily Mail Australia in 2002 that he and others did not learn about the attack until the next day.

“It’s just shocking what happened,” he said.

‘People from different countries come together and have a good time. Usually there is a good and positive atmosphere.’

According to an attendee at the event, the female backpacker was in a lot of pain after the attack.

Footage shows the serious injuries the woman sustained during the brutal ‘bush doof’ attack

‘Bush doofs’ – loosely organised outdoor parties in regional areas – are popular in Broome.

The tourist town regularly hosts events on the beaches and in the bush.

It is believed that the 2022 event was organized through the Facebook Messenger app.

Partygoers were reluctant to talk about the attack in 2022 and the town’s residents avoided the media.

When asked who organized the event, one man replied, “That’s none of your business.”

He then claimed that “everyone knows” who the alleged rapist is, but others said this was simply not true.

Western Australia police have released footage of the party as they launch a $250,000 appeal for any information

In 2022, Sergeant Beck said people may have been hesitant to approach police due to possible drug and alcohol use at the event, but he assured the public that the investigation is focused solely on the attack.

He also said police have no information indicating the perpetrator was a guest at the rave.

However, Sgt Beck told the ABC that the incident meant local police would take an interest in future raves.

“Behind the scenes we have been having discussions with organisers and local government about bush doofs,” he said.

“Given that something serious happened at this event, we would like to know more about these events and the people who attend them.”

A new $250,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.

Anyone who can help is urged to contact Crime Stoppers, either by phone or via their anonymous online portal.