Utrecht police are urgently searching for a man they believe attacked two women cycling alone within half an hour of each other, dragging both from their bikes and putting them in chokeholds on the night of June 18–19.
The appeal was made through Opsporing Verzocht, the long-running Dutch crime programme that asks the public to help solve open cases.
Police suspect the same man is behind both attacks.
What happened
Both incidents took place west of Utrecht city centre in the early hours. The first woman was cycling along the Potgieterstraat when she was attacked at around 2 AM.
The second was riding near the Leidseveer, roughly half an hour later.
In both cases, the man pulled the women from their bikes and beat them severely. During the attacks, he placed both victims in a chokehold.
According to police, he appears to have chosen his targets at random.
Between the two attacks, cameras captured the suspect, including on the Kanaalstraat.
@opsporingverzocht DELEN, SPOED! De politie wil dringend tips over deze man. Hij heeft afgelopen vrijdagochtend binnen een half uur twee vrouwen in Utrecht van hun fiets getrokken en grof mishandeld door onder andere een nekklem aan te leggen. Ze lijken willekeurig gekozen. Het gebeurde in de nacht van 18 op 19 juni tussen 02.00 en 02.30 uur in de Potgieterstraat en Leidseveer. Hij is gefilmd tussen de aanvallen. Signalement verdachte: ● leeftijd ± 20 – 40 jaar ● slank ● 1.70 – 1.80 ● breed hoofd ● scheve tanden ● rookt Tip over deze zaak? Bel gratis 24/7: 0800-6070 of anoniem naar Meld Misdaad Anoniem: 0800- 7000. Je kunt ook online een tipformulier invullen via opsporingverzocht.nl of meldmisdaadanoniem.nl | Zaaknummer: PL0900-2026211701 #opsporingverzocht #politie #Utrecht ♬ origineel geluid – Opsporing Verzocht
What the police know about the suspect
Both victims describe their attacker as having a broad head and crooked teeth. He’s slim, between 1.70 and 1.80 metres tall, and estimated to be 20 to 40 years old.
On the night in question, he carried a small bag, which he sometimes held visibly and at other times tucked under his jacket. Footage released by investigators also shows him smoking.
How you can help if you recognise him
If you were in the area of the Potgieterstraat, Kanaalstraat, or Leidseveer that night, officers want to hear from you, even if it seems minor.
They’re also asking anyone with a private camera nearby to check their own footage for the suspect.
You can pass on information to the tip line on 0800-6070, report anonymously via Meld Misdaad Anoniem on 0800-7000, or file a tip online using this form. The case number is PL0900-2026211701.
Were you near West Utrecht that night, or do you recognise the description? Let us know in the comments, and please pass on anything useful to the police.
