By Walter Jayawardhana

Although those incidents of attacks on women cannot be officially linked to the Michelle Samaraweera murder , police have appealed to witnesses of two attempted assaults on women to come forward to give information to help identify the culprit, the metropolitan Police of London said.

The incidents in South Grove and Markham Road in London were attempts of attacks on women in March 2009 but due to intervention of men the women escaped , but police think those who intervened could help identify the rapist.

Police investigating the murder of Michelle Samaraweera and the two DNA-linked sexual assaults are reviewing previously reported offences in a bid to trace the man responsible.

Officers have been investigating other incidents in the Waltham Forest area to establish any possible links and to further the investigation.

Police were called at approx. 05:50 on Saturday 30 May after the body of woman was found in a small park and play area along Queens Road E17, close to the junction with Markhouse Road. Michelle [21.7.73 – 35 ys] had been strangled and raped.

Detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC) quickly linked two assaults in the area.

The first at 01:00 on 24 March as a 59-year-old woman was walking to her home near Queens Road E17. She approached her front door and noticed the suspect standing nearby. She walked around him and as she entered her property he forced his way inside, raping her in her bedroom.

The second assault at 01:00 on 22 April involved a 46-year-old woman who had been walking along Lea Bridge Road with the suspect attempting to talk to her when she was forced into an alleyway near to St James Street rail station E17. She was raped before the suspect fled, warning her not to leave the scene.

The suspect has been described as being of Asian appearance, or with dark skin, and is aged between 30 and 45 years.

Along with these incidents officers are now appealing for witnesses and information about two further assaults on women in the South Grove and Markhouse Road areas in March 2009.

On Thursday March 19 at 22:00 a man armed with a knife grabbed a 16-year-old girl in South Grove opposite the Alpha Business Centre, E17. At the same time a group of men – one white and two black – driving a silver-coloured car, witnessed the attack and rushed to the woman’s aid. Their intervention allowed the woman to escape the scene.

On Thursday 26 March at around 23:30 a woman aged 46 years was walking close to St Saviour’s Church in Markhouse Road when a man grabbed and assaulted her. Three white men who had been driving a white van nearby witnessed the assault and stopped to help. The suspect fled the scene.

The suspect in both attacks is described as being of Asian appearance with a light skin tone.

Officers are keen to trace witnesses to the attacks but also the men who assisted on each occasion. They may have vital information that could assist the investigation.

Detective Superintendent Vic Rae (HSCC) said: “Whilst these two attacks cannot be officially linked to the murder of Michelle Samaraweera, we would like to speak to anyone who may have information that could help us. The six men who acted so courageously and intervened are yet to come forward and they may have information which could greatly assist.”

Following previous appeals officers issued two CCTV stills of Michelle at approx 01:00 on Saturday 30 May as she entered the Somerfield supermarket in Markhouse Road opposite the junction with Queens Road.

Det. Supt. Rae said: “Michelle was callously murdered as she returned to her boyfriend’s address and it’s essential we trace the man responsible as soon as possible. Michelle was wearing a very distinctive black jacket with white parallel lines down the sleeves. We know she was in Somerfield’s between 01:00 and approx 01:15 but we have no other sightings of her between 22:00 on Friday 29 May and the time her body was found at around 05:50 on Saturday. We need to hear from anyone who saw Michelle or who has any information which could help.”

Police are keen to hear from anyone who may have been approached by a man matching the description of the suspect.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8345 3715; if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

On 29 June the investigation featured on BBC Crimewatch which featured an e-fit of the man thought to be responsible for the attacks.

+ In May a total of four men [A/B/C/D] were arrested in connection with the inquiry. All were bailed to return pending further inquiries and have since been released with no further action.

On 29 June a man [E – 36 ys] was arrested in connection with the investigation. He has been bailed to return pending further inquiries.