Clapham sex attacks: Man arrested by police over assaults in south London

There have been nine sex attacks on women on the streets of Clapham over the past month

The suspect is believed to be behind eight separate sexual assaults in south London (Metropolitan Police)

A 24-year-old man has been arrested by detectives investigating a string of sexual assaults in south London, Scotland Yard said.

Scotland Yard said the was detained in the Brixton Hill area on suspicion of sexual assault. He is being questioned at a south London police station.

Nine women have been attacked in a series of incidents in Clapham and Brixton in the last month which police believe are linked.

Officers are warning women to be "vigilant" in the wake of the attacks and asking them to report anything that makes them feel unsafe.

Two other men aged 34 and 30 were arrested last week and later released on bail.

A 32-year-old man was arrested and remains in police custody.

It comes as allegations emerge that the police waited two days to warn the public that the attacker was on the loose.

Mirror Online reports that Scotland Yard figured out that the three attacks on woman on Monday 26th October were linked to earlier assaults and increased patrols in the area the next day.

But despite telling other officers they failed to notify the public until two days later when two more attacks were carried out.

A Met Police spokesman told the Mirror: "The three reported incidents on October 26 were immediately linked and CCTV capturing one of the assaults received by the investigating team.

"On October 28 two further assaults were linked and investigating officers were quick to conduct a robust review of all reported sexual offences in Lambeth borough.

"Despite some discrepancies between the reported assaults, in particular regarding the suspect description and the methodology, senior officers subsequently linked eight offences.

Timeline of the attacks

9th October- Clithroe Road
10th October- Deauville Court
22nd October - Trent Road
26th October - Arodene Road, Kings Avenue and Sandmere Road
28th October - Southwell Road and Sudbourne Road
31st October - Edithna Street

"This was deemed appropriate to ensure that all offences were investigated by the same team and that the relevant safety advice was issued to women in the Clapham and Brixton Hill areas."

The spokesman stressed that all offences, regardless of when they were reported, were being "fully investigated" by officers.

Police had said they have not ruled out the possibility of "copycat attacks".

When asked by the Press Association if men may be committing offences under the "veil" of police hunting amother man, Police Commander Simon Letchford said it was "possible".

Additional reporting by PA

Anyone who has any information or witnesses should to call the MPS on the police non-emergency line on 101. In the event of an emergency call 999.