The head of Foyle Women’s Aid has said the community must come together to “eradicate” violence against women and girls, following the latest sexually-motivated knifepoint attack in Londonderry.
Marie Brown was speaking yesterday as police launched an investigation after the second sex attack in the city in two days, and the fourth such incident in the space of a week.
The latest incident happened when a woman in her 40s walking her dog in Top of the Hill Park shortly before 3pm on Saturday was approached by a man armed with a kitchen knife.
The man tried to grab the woman, who called out and swung her dog lead at him, prompting the assailant to run off.
Police responded and conducted a search, but the suspect had fled the area. The suspect is believed to have headed in the direction of Corrody Road.
He is described as being a white man in his 20s, around 5ft 11ins tall, and of slim build. He was dressed all in black and had his hoody pulled tightly around his face.
Police are investigating a potential link to an attack on a woman in her 20s in Drumahoe Park at around 10pm on Friday.
The woman was approached from behind, punched on the side of the head and pulled into nearby trees at knifepoint.
During the struggle, the woman managed to strike her attacker in the face several times with her torch, letting her break free and run for help.
PSNI 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 the 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.”
Saturday’s incident brings to four the number of sex attacks on women in Londonderry in the space of a week.
A 24-year-old man was arrested and later released on police bail after the alleged rape of a young woman at Bank Place in the city on October 26.
Another man has appeared in court over a separate attack on a woman in her 50s in the Lecky Road area on October 27. He denies the charges.
Marie Brown, chief executive of Foyle Women’s Aid, said anyone with any information regarding any of the attacks should contact the police, or the charity if they would feel more comfortable doing so.
Marie Brown of Foyle Women’s Aid
“We as a community must come together to protect women and stop this,” she said.
“Women should feel safe in this community and there needs to be a coordinated response to these attacks.
“We have an issue about violence against women and girls — I’ve been saying that for close to 30 years that it needs more attention.
“Now the issue is getting more attention. Now is the time for us to come together as a community and eradicate violence against women and girls. It is not acceptable.”
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin called for attacks on women in the city to end.
“There is huge concern in our city following a number of recent attacks on women,” she said.
“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, whether on a night out 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 (Monday) 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.”
Foyle DUP MLA Gary Middleton described the Drumahoe attack as “a sad and outrageous serious, sexually-motivated attack”.
“I am greatly concerned about the number of attacks on women in our society. These acts of violence are wholly unacceptable,” he said.
“I urge anyone with information to come forward and support the ongoing investigation. We must stand together to ensure that our communities are safe and that perpetrators are held accountable.”