Don't go out alone' warning to women

BELFAST TELEGRAPH
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Women in the lower Shankill area have been warned not to walk alone at night following the second serious sexual assault in the area in a fortnight.

Police are investigating reports that a 17-year-old girl was raped in the Malvern Street area as she was walking home on Monday night.

She was attacked by an unknown male shortly before 10.30pm near a GPs' surgery.

Councillor Elaine McMillen said she feared the attack and another serious sexual assault on a woman in her 20s at nearby Denmark Street early on November 17 could be linked.

"That is two within a couple of weeks of each other," the DUP councillor said.

"I would be worried that there is a link between the two. People should be vigilant, young ladies especially. I would appeal to anybody who knows who this is to ring the police so they can be brought to justice."

But police said they are not investigating a link.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "If anything comes up in the course of this investigation, it will be investigated further."

PUP councillor Hugh Smith said he would be contacting police to make sure there are more patrols in the area.

Rape Crisis Centre director Eileen Calder said: "It's an absolute disgrace that women are not safe on the streets of Belfast. Even at that time of the night, women should have the right to be able to walk around without the fear of attack."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at Antrim Road at 0845 6008000.