MAPPED: The times and locations of the five stabbing/punch attacks against young women in Belfast

The News Letter has mapped out the times and places where five women were attacked on Monday night in Belfast, showing the assailant took a bizarre route through the city, seeming to double back on himself.
By Adam Kula
Published 13th Oct 2020, 16:55 BST
The locations and times of the attacks; the PSNI was not precise about some of the locations, giving only road names, and as such these are mapped out as linesThe locations and times of the attacks; the PSNI was not precise about some of the locations, giving only road names, and as such these are mapped out as lines
The locations and times of the attacks; the PSNI was not precise about some of the locations, giving only road names, and as such these are mapped out as lines

There is a beefed-up police presence tonight in the city centre and student district, and women are being advised not to walk alone, after the spate of attacks.

The incidents involved three stabbings and two cases of women being punched, and the PSNI said a team of detectives has been detailed to hunt the attacker.

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The culprit is believed to have been armed with what Chief Superintendent Simon Walls described as “a small knife”.

None of the women were believed to be in a life-threatening condition.

The police did not say anything was stolen from the women, leaving a question mark over what any possible motivation could be.

The attacks happened within a roughly 80-minute window on Monday night.

The incidents were:

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~ At approximately 8.10pm a woman was stabbed on Ormeau Avenue, a street near the city centre on which the BBC building and a number of bars stand.

~ At about 8.45pm a woman was stabbed at Donegall Square West, the street to the right of Belfast City Hall (as you look at the front of it).

~ At about 8.55pm a woman was punched in the head on the Dublin Road, a popular entertainment spot filled with bars and restaurants.

~ At about 9pm a woman was punched in the neck near the junction of the Lisburn Road and Dunluce Avenue.

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~ And at about 9.30pm, a woman was stabbed on University Road, running from Shaftesbury Square past Queen’s University Belfast.

All victims were females ranging in age from 19 to 22.

The PSNI described the suspect as wearing dark clothing, possibly a hooded top, and cycling a mountain bike which may have a light coloured frame and reflectors on the spokes. They also believe the man may have been masked.

Chief Supt Walls told journalists yesterday there was going to be “an enhanced police footprint” in the city centre and university area, with officers on foot and in vehicles.

He said: “To anyone who’s out in the city centre, just be vigilant, know where you are, try and – if you’re going out – to be with a friend or in groups.

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“Make sure wherever you’re going that people know where you are going and what time you are meant to be home.”

Anyone with information or who has dashcam footage is asked to get in touch with police on 101, or to ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Keith Montgomery, Burnaby, Canada

Read more from the News Letter:

Click here: Swann: We won’t even talk about ‘herd immunity’ in my department

Click here: Deep divisions over Troubles erupt as council agrees to consider army museum

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