Police appeal on needle attacks

Below is an appeal from the Met Police concerning the recent attacks in the N4 area.

Detectives in Haringey are appealing for assistance from the public to identify a man suspected of jabbing two women with a sharp implement,thought to be a needle.

Officers are linking the offences which happened last week in the N4 area.

The first incident happened on Friday 18 November at 0930hrs at a Bus stop outside 379 Green Lanes. The suspect approached the victim, a 24-year-old woman, at a bus stop close to the BR station before pushing the sharp pointed implement into her body.

He fled the scene along Umfreville Road towards Wightman Road.

Five days later on Wednesday 23 November, at 14:30hrs, police believe the same suspect approached a 29-year-old woman also waiting at a bus stop. She was standing in Ferme Park Road, N4, when she was also  stabbed. The suspect then ran off along Ferme Park Road towards Crouch End.

Whilst the victims were only slightly hurt during the incidents they will now have to undergo a series of medical tests to ensure they are free from any possible infections.

The suspect is described as being of Mediterranean appearance, 6ft in height with dark hair. He wore a baseball cap on both occasions and a dark-coloured jacket.

Detective Constable Ben Jefferd, who is leading the investigation, said:

The man committing these offences loiters at bus stops for some time before appearing to select a victim and attacking them. These assaults obviously cause great distress to the victims in the weeks after, while they await crucial test results. I ask anyone with information that could help us locate this man to come forward as soon as possible.

Detective Chief Inspector Beverly Hawes, at Tottenham police station, said:

Whilst incidents like this are extremely rare we do ask people in the Haringey area to remain vigilant.

Anyone with information or who knows the whereabouts of the suspect is asked to contact the incident room at Tottenham CID on 07785 381 215 or Crimestoppers anonymously.