Mystery deepens over savage Sydney attack

SYDNEY - Confusion surrounding a brutal attack on an 18-year-old woman deepened yesterday when police withdrew a statement that she had been sexually assaulted.

Lauren Huxley was beaten unconscious, bound and doused in petrol by an attacker who fled after setting fire to her Northmead home.

Parramatta Local Area Commander Superintendent Geoff Beresford yesterday retracted an earlier statement that she had been raped.

He said police are still waiting for forensic evidence to be analysed and to talk to Huxley, who is in a critical condition in Westmead Hospital with serious head and other injuries.

Earlier yesterday Superintendent Beresford told ABC Radio that Huxley had been sexually assaulted, saying: "Without going into the details - that is the case.

"As I say, it was a particularly horrific physical attack as well, but certainly the expertise that's available to us from the sex crimes unit will be helpful to us."

The assault on Huxley appeared to have started in her bedroom before moving to the garage, Superintendent Beresford said.

Police are investigating the possibility that she had either been followed home or attacked by someone lying in wait at the house.

It would appear the offender had either been interrupted or burned themselves before they could light the garage with Huxley inside, Beresford said.

Police appealed for information, stating that a number of people outside the home when the fire brigade arrived had disappeared by the time police were there.

- AAP