Concern among community following spate of ‘sickening’ sex attacks

THERE is increasing concern among the people of Derry after a spate of sexual attacks on women in the city.

Four women were attacked in separate incidents last week over the course of seven days.

The most recent incident happened on Saturday, November 2, when a woman in her 40s was approached by a man carrying a kitchen knife as she walked her dog in Top of the Hill Park at around 3pm.

The man grabbed at the woman, but she called out and swung her dog lead at him, prompting him to run off.

Police searched the area but were unable to find the man, who they believe headed in the direction of Corrody Road.

He is described as a white man in his 20s, around 5’ 11” tall with a slim build and was wearing all black clothing.

He had his hoody pulled tight around his face.

PSNI detectives are investigating the possibility that this attack is linked to a similar attack which happened in Drumahoe the previous evening (Friday, November 1).

The victim, a woman aged in her 20s, was walking in Drumahoe Park when a man approached her from behind.

He punched the woman to the side of the head, pulled her into nearby trees and pushed her to the ground at knifepoint.

The woman struggled with her attacker, managing to strike him in the face a number of times with her torch before she was able to break free and run for help.

Prior to these incidents two other sexual attacks on women – which are not believed to be linked – were reported in the city.

On October 27 a woman aged in her 50s was dragged into an alleyway and sexually assaulted at around 1.15am in the Lecky Road area of Derry.

The man repeatedly hit her face and banged her head off a wall before she eventually managed to break free and escape him.

In a separate incident on October 26, a woman, aged in her late teens, was sexualy assaulted in the Bank Place area of the city at around 1.30am.

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin said people in Derry are now “very concerned” over the number of attacks reported in the city.

Following the attacks reported over the weekend, she said: “This is the third report of a serious sexual attack in our city in a week and people are understandably concerned.

“We have a number of victims who have been through the worst experience imaginable and police have had to increase their patrols to reassure people.”

She added: “Nobody should be subjected to this kind of attack, it ruins lives and my heart goes out to anyone impacted by these incidents.

“Violence like this is all too common place in our society and we have a long way to go before women and girls can feel safe just living their lives.

“I would urge anyone with any information about these attacks to come forward to police. We need to send a serious message about the consequences for engaging in this kind of sickening behaviour.”

The PSNI have called for anyone who may have witnessed any of the attacks to come forward.

Detective Inspector Ross Olphert said: “We understand that there will be concern in the community at a second knifepoint attack on a woman in just two days, with this latest one occurring during daylight hours, however I can assure residents that a focused, tactical patrolling plan - which includes a high visibility police presence in key areas such as our local parks - has been implemented and there will be an increased police presence across the city in coming days.”

He added: “Whilst we are carrying out a number of enquiries to establish if there is any definitive link between these two attacks, I can assure residents that there is no link to attacks in the city centre last week.

“In both of those cases a suspect has been identified and those cases are ongoing.

“We are engaging with our communities and partners in the city around what we can do, as a collective, to ensure women and girls feel safe and empowered to go about their lives without fear.

“In the interim I would ask that if you notice someone acting suspiciously or if a person’s behaviour causes you concern, do not approach and instead call police immediately."

Witnesses or anyone with information should call 101.