Montreal sex assaults: Suspect wanted by police

There is renewed attention to a series of alleged sexual assaults in Montreal, and police set up a command post in Ahuntsic-Cartierville.

Montreal police (SPVM) is searching for a suspect believed to have been involved in several sexual assaults in the boroughs of Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.

A command post is slated to be set up on Thursday at the intersection of Fleury Street East and Curotte Avenue in the Ahuntsic neighbourhood to gather information.

This comes after police say an investigation established a link between a suspect and several sexual assaults committed between 2006 and 2012.

“During these assaults, the suspect [allegedly] attacked the victims from behind, covered their mouths with his hand, and demanded sexual acts before fleeing on foot,” the force said. “On some occasions, he also used a knife to threaten them.”

Police released two composite sketches, one from 2006 and another from 2012, in the hopes of identifying the man.

The force describes him as a French-speaking white man, 1.75 m (5’9”) tall, who was between 40 and 50 years old at the time of the alleged crimes.

The command post is set to be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Sexual Assault Section at 514-799-7225.

People can also contact Info-Crime Montreal anonymously and confidentially at 514-393-1133 or via the tip form available on the infocrimemontreal.ca website.