Rape probe at S. Phila. High "Complicated issues" are involved in the report of an assault on a special-ed student, police say.

Police probing the report of a sexual assault on a 16-year-old special-education student at South Philadelphia High School said that the investigation would be lengthy and that any arrest would not be soon.

Capt. John Darby of the Special Victims Unit said there were many issues complicating the case, but declined to elaborate. He also declined to provide details of the alleged assault or to say whether the boys involved also were special-education students.

"There is not an arrest imminent from the viewpoint of tonight or tomorrow," Darby said.

On Thursday, a school security officer went into a room near the auditorium about 1 p.m. and saw the girl, a 10th grader, with several boys engaged in sexual activity.

Another police official said the girl was coerced into entering the room by a male student, and once there, three other students arrived and she was forced into sexual activity.

Authorities know the identities of the four teenage boys.

School District spokesman Fernando Gallard declined to provide details on the alleged attackers.

The girl, who police said had no visible injuries, was treated at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.