Toronto police say a man is suspected of attacking as many as six women in the north end of Toronto over the past several months, and fear more similar cases could be on the way.
Police said on Thursday that at least six attacks occurred between May 8 and July 31; all have all occurred in or near the same area and are all similar in nature.
"We believe the incidents involve the same attacker," Det. Phil Campbell of the Sex Crimes Unit told a press conference on Thursday.
Campbell said he believes there could be more, unreported incidents and need the public's help to identify the suspect.
Four of the six attacks happened in the Yonge and Finch area, while the other two reported attacks occurred a short distance away.
Five of the six victims are of Asian descent, Campbell said.
Police have previously released details about most of the incidents, but say they now suspect the same person was involved in all of them.
"There is always a fear that is going to escalate. That is part of the reason why we are here today," Campbell said.
In the previous incidents:
- A 28-year-old woman was sexually assaulted while walking on Yonge Street, near Empress Avenue, in the early hours of June 17.
- A 39-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in the Don Mills area on June 21.
- A 21-year-old woman was grabbed and assaulted on the afternoon of July 11 while walking along the pathway between Averill Crescent and Deering Crescent
- a 29-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by a man in the Olive Avenue and Yonge Street area on the evening of July 31.
The suspect is described as Asian with short black hair. He is believed to be between 30 and 40 years of age and as tall as 5-8. He was last seen wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt with dark pants.
