Man wanted for pulling cyclists off bikes in Utrecht at night; More attacks expected

The police released a photo of a man wanted for recent attacks in Utrecht “in which cyclists were pulled from their bicycles” during the nighttime hours. The police know his identity but are looking for his whereabouts. “New attacks are conceivable,” the police said.

According to the police, the man strikes at night and seems to target people cycling by themselves. According to RTV Utrecht, one victim is a 19-year-old woman.

She was cycling on Weg tot de Wetenschap near Utrecht University when a car approached her under the A27 viaduct. The car stopped, the man got out and violently grabbed her and pulled her from her bicycle. She managed to get away.

A police spokesperson told NOS that there was “a similar incident” a few days earlier. The police didn’t say whether this victim was also a young woman or whether there were more incidents.

According to the police, the suspect could be anywhere in the Netherlands but also possibly in neighboring countries. The police asked anyone who knows where he is or may have spotted him to contact them.