BIRMINGHAM, England, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Police in Birmingham, England, are searching for a man who may have stabbed as many as five women with hypodermic needles in the past 18 months.
The most recent attack happened Nov. 3 in central Birmingham, The Independent reported Friday.
Police say a male suspect pricked the 30-year-old victim in her thigh with a needle. The woman reported feeling a sharp pain in her leg which was later confirmed to be from a puncture wound.
A 20-year-old woman was stabbed twice in the thigh and buttock June 23, and a 28-year-old woman suffered a similar attack on Oct. 6, police said. Two similar cases were reported last year.
"Although the women have not been left with any obvious physical injuries they have had to endure an agonizing wait to check that they have not suffered any long-lasting health effects," Detective Inspector Julie Woods said.
"Due to the nature of the offenses, victims have not realized they have been injured until hours or days later, which has resulted in limited lines of inquiry," Woods said. "But we now have a particularly clear image of a man we want to identify in connection with the attacks and I would appeal for him, or anyone who knows who he may be, to come forward."
Woods said police have yet to determine a motive for the attacks.
"These are strange offenses and the motive at this stage is unclear, which is why it's so important for us to identify the person in this CCTV image as soon as possible," Woods said.
