Ottawa woman in grave condition after attack in Banff

The victim of a violent sexual assault last week in Alberta has been identified as an Ottawa woman.

The 20-year-old victim remains on life support in a Calgary hospital.

Investigators say the hotel worker was attacked shortly after leaving a party for a colleague at a Banff bar.

She was found in a town park on the morning of July 11, partially clothed and suffering from a skull fracture.

The 25-year-old suspect was arrested the next day while trying to hitch a ride out of the tourist town, said RCMP Staff Sgt. Bill Young.

He was picked up on unrelated warrants issued by the Calgary Police, but Young said they had been looking for him.

"He was a person we wanted to speak to, with respect to the investigation," Young said.

The man had only been in Banff for a few days, Young said, and had just got a job.

The suspect made a court appearance Monday. He has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated sexual assault.

The attack unnerved women in Banff, as police warned people to travel in groups and not walk alone at night.