Police have revealed new details of a brutal attack on a lone woman walking her dog outside a school in Bermondsey, as weeks on they are yet to find the attacker.
The vicious assault on Valentine’s Day morning at around 9.30am is believed to have involved a hammer and parents have taken to social media in a bid to get answers.
The News this week was told by police that it is still unclear if the hammer was used in the attack, as they piece together the events from the morning of February 14 outside Harris Academy School on Southwark Park Road.
The school was closed due to half term and the attack did not involve anyone connected to Harris Academy, but parents are worried after rumours that a man, matching the description of the attacker, was seen in a nearby road the following day, brandishing a saw.
The Met has now said they are investigating reports that the woman was attacked using a hammer, confirming that one was found near the crime scene.
They have confirmed that the assailant responsible for the unprovoked attack is described as a 5’7” black male of average build, in his mid-twenties with short afro hair and that he is still at large.
The report that someone matching the man’s description was outside the school on February 15 “swinging a saw” while talking to himself, is circulating on social media.
A local mum who lives nearby with her children claimed police were called following that sighting. But police were unable to confirm that they’d received any calls from the public about a man armed with a saw. Anybody who did see a man swinging a saw that day is encouraged to step forward and share that evidence with police.
Suspect still at large after brutal attack on woman outside Bermondsey school
The mum, whose kids walk down Southwark Park Road every day, has been gripped with anxiety about their safety: “One of my children is at home from school sick with Covid today. While no parent likes to see their child unwell, I am grateful as it gives me a few days of reprieve from worry and anxiety that they will be attacked or killed while walking to and from school.”
Local MP Neil Coyle said: “It’s a very scary attack and the police need to catch the culprit as soon as possible. There are plenty of CCTV cameras in the area that I hope are being collected for footage by local police.”
A crime scene was established in the immediate aftermath of the attack and two weeks on police are still appealing for witnesses to come forward with information.
Police say they do not believe the suspect and the victim were known to one another and the woman is understood to be making a recovery from her injuries.
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In a statement, a Met Police spokesperson said: “Evidence has been gathered in the form of witness accounts and a hammer that was found nearby. It is not yet confirmed that this hammer was used in commission of this offence.
“We do not believe the suspect and the victim were known to one another, and we are working to locate him. He has been described as a black male, average build, approximately 5’7”, in his mid-twenties, short afro hair, in dark clothing with a dark backpack.”
Harris Academy Bermondsey has been approached for comment.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the police on 101 quoting reference 1982/14FEB23.