February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Pierce O’Reilly
Police in Queens have confirmed that two young female immigrants were assaulted in the Woodside area of Queens last week. The incidents, which police believe are unrelated, took place in the middle of the day. The first assault took place when an Irish student was knocked to the ground by her assailant as she walked home in the afternoon. The male attacker approached from behind, according to police, and wrestled the girl to the ground before she escaped. At first the victim thought it was a a prank by friends, police said. However, the attacker continued to assault the victim by kicking her on the ground before running away. The attack occurred in the heart of the Irish community on Woodside Avenue.
In the other incident, an Irish waitress was assaulted in Maspeth. Police say that the attack occurred as the woman walked home from work when an unidentified male jumped on her. The victim managed to get free and run to a nearby house and call police. The assailant fled.
The motives for the recent attacks are a mystery to police, who say they are investigating both cases.
"We’re very concerned with such reports," a police spokesperson said. "People will just have to be extra vigilant, especially is they must travel alone."
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