Police said the 16-year-old was walking on the footpath when a man walked up beside her, covered her mouth and pulled her into nearby bushes.

The teenager struggled, kicking the man and managing to break free from his grasp and run off.

She had been walking on Kittabilla Street, near the intersection with Craigslea Street, about 12.15pm, police said.

The man was last seen running in Buran Street, Chermside West.

He was described as Caucasian, aged possibly in his late 20s to early 30s, about 185 centimetres tall with a proportionate build and stubble on his face.

The man was wearing a black baseball cap, black framed sunglasses with orange reflector lenses, a white T-shirt and black baseball shorts.

Police are appealing for anyone who noticed a man acting suspiciously or who seemed out of place in Chermside West on Wednesday to come forward, as well as any motorists or residents who might have caught the man on CCTV or dashcam footage.

"The girl fortunately was not physically injured, however, was naturally distraught by the incident," a police spokesman said.

On Wednesday night, police released a computer-generated image of a man they wanted to speak to in relation to the attack.