A man has been charged with the attempted rape of a teenager in north London.
The 18-year-old woman was alone when she was allegedly sexually assaulted at knifepoint on Billy Fury Way, near to Finchley Road and Frognal rail station, in Hampstead
A 22-year-old man has now been charged in connection with the alleged sex attack at around 8pm last Tuesday, Scotland Yard said.
But police think the alleged assault could be linked to a separate incident just 40 minutes later where a woman was followed by a man in the same area.
Police want to speak to the woman, believed to be aged between 18 and 30, who left Finchley Road and Frognal train station at 8.38pm.
She was followed by a man into Lymington Road and, fearing for her safety, approached a security guard at a Jewish community centre on Finchley Road. Police said she "sought refuge" and hid in the centre’s café for around half an hour.
The woman is described as white, 5ft 7ins and of medium build with long dark hair.
Detective Constable Scott Barefoot, from the Met Police’s team for sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command, said: "If you recognise yourself from this description please come forward.
“It is really important because shortly before this incident another woman was the victim of an attempted rape and we need to establish whether these events are linked and if you have any information that could help our enquiries."
Police arrested the 22-year-old man on Thursday, August 18 and he was later charged.
Anyone who might be able to help is asked to please contact officers on 020 8733 5999 or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Local Camden councillor Philip Rosenburg, for West Hampstead, said he was “distressed” to hear of the attack.
He posted on Twitter: “This is a rare incident but looking at how to make [Billy Fury Way] safer.”
