Police in Derry investigating sexually motivated attack on a woman in her 40s

Detectives in Derry are investigating a sexually motivated attack on a woman in her 40s in the Waterside area on Saturday, November 2.

The woman was walking her dog in Top of the Hill Park shortly before 3pm when she was approached by a man armed with a kitchen knife. The man grabbed at the woman but she called out and swung her dog lead at him, prompting him to run off.

Police responded quickly and conducted a thorough search however the attacker had left the area.

It’s believed the suspect 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.

Detectives are investigating the possibility that this attack is linked to a similar attack in Drumahoe on Friday night.

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.

"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 that could potentially assist our investigations can call 101 or submit online via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ "

The Crimestoppers charity can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has called for an end to attacks on women in Derry.

She was speaking after another incident on Saturday in the Top of the Hill area.

Ms McLaughlin said: “There is huge concern in our city following a number of recent attacks on women. I am seeing details of self-defence classes being shared online and women and their families having real fear about them heading out on their own. Mothers are having to caution their daughters to take care when out and about and this should not be happening.

“Every woman lives with the fear that something like this could happen to them, whether on a night our or simply going about their life. This has been an accepted fact and tolerated within our society for far too long, we have a serious issue here and we have to get to grips with it.

“I will be raising this directly on the floor of the Assembly tomorrow morning. My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the events of the last week in our city, the victims are uppermost in our thoughts, but behind closed doors there will be many women who have had similar experiences and this will have brought it all back.”