Delft police investigate series of attacks on women in Delftse Hout

Police in Delft are investigating a potential connection between four violent incidents targeting women in the Delftse Hout recreational area. The attacks occurred between July 10 and September 2, involving victims being pulled from their bicycles and subsequently assaulted or raped.

Initial investigations in July treated the first two incidents as isolated cases. However, following two additional reports in early September, authorities noted that descriptions of the perpetrator partially match across the incidents.

Delft Mayor Alexander Pechtold has advised residents to cycle together for safety and to remain vigilant. The municipality faced questions from the city council regarding the delay in public warnings, to which officials responded that it was too early to communicate during the initial July investigations. Police have increased patrols in the area and are calling for witnesses to come forward.