Mounties to release composite sketch, update investigation, into UBC attacks

VANCOUVER – Mounties are ready to release a composite sketch of the man believed responsible for a series of sexual assaults at the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus.

Sgt. Peter Thiessen says the sketch will be released at a news conference later today, along with an update about the search for the person suspected of six attacks on women since April.

All six victims were walking alone late at night when they were jumped from behind and groped, and one was punched in the face.

Three of the attacks occurred in October, one was reported in late September and investigators announced last month that separate incidents in April and May are also connected.

UBC President Stephen Toope says the attacks are an extremely unusual occurrence on what he calls one of the safest campuses in North America.

The university has hired an outside security company to bolster UBC’s own resources and volunteers have also stepped in to patrol the campus and extend the hours of a program called Safewalk, so students can have two people walk them across the campus as late as 4 a.m.

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