Bristol women targeted in multiple incidents in the city
- Published
One of the indecent assaults took place on Redcliff Street in the city centre
Targeted police patrols are being carried out in Bristol after a woman and a teenage schoolgirl were indecently assaulted and three other women reported being approached by a man with a knife.
Avon and Somerset Police said it was "keeping an open mind" about possible links between the five incidents.
They happened on 20, 22 and 25 March.
Police said there were "similarities" in the description of the man given by the victims of all the incidents.
Three happened between 19:30 and 21:30 GMT on 20 March.
A woman in her 20s was on Ferry Street when a man approached her and produced a knife. He did not say anything and then ran away.
A second woman, also in her 20s, was approached by a man carrying a knife on Picton Street, before he ran off after being disturbed by a passer-by.
The third incident happened on Sydenham Road in Cotham when a woman in her 30s was approached by a man and saw he had a knife in a sheath. She called to a passing cyclist for help and the man ran off.
A woman was approached on Sydenham Road in Cotham
Two days later, on 22 March, a man approached a woman on Redcliff Street just before 21.30.
He claimed to have a knife although police say "none was seen". He indecently assaulted the woman and then tried to take her phone.
The most recent attack happened on Monday at about 16.30, when a man indecently assaulted a 14-year-old girl near Somerset Square.
A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said: "Each woman said their assailant wore a balaclava or face covering. Two say he was dressed all in black while one described him as wearing a grey tracksuit.
"The ages given vary between mid-teens and mid-twenties and height between 5ft 4ins (1.64m) and 5ft 8ins," the force added.
The 14-year-old girl is yet to be interviewed and CCTV footage is being studied as part of the investigation.
Anyone who may have been in the area at the time of each incident, or anyone who may have dashcam footage, has been asked to contact officers.
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