Second woman attacked with knife in Derry in two days

Police in Derry are investigating a second sexually motivated attack on a woman in the city in two days.

She was walking her dog in the Top of the Hill Park area of the city around 3pm yesterday when she was approached by a man armed with a kitchen knife.

He grabbed her, but she swung at him with the dog lead, forcing him to run off.

Police responded quickly and carried out a thorough search but there was no sign of the man.

It is the second incident in the city in 48 hours.

On Friday night a woman was dragged into trees at Drumahoe Park on the outskirts of the city and forced to the ground by a man carrying a knife.

She was able to fight him off and run for help.

Detectives are investigating the possibility that the two attacks are linked.

The suspect involved in yesterday's attack is described as being a white male in his 20s, around 5'11" (1.8m) tall of slim build and was wearing all-black clothing.

He had his hoody pulled tight around his face.

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."

SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin said she would be raising the two attacks in the city at Stormont tomorrow.

"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," Ms McLaughlin said.