Man threatened by crossbow suspect ‘who may be behind two previous attacks’

Police are looking for a suspect who threatened a man with a crossbow and may have been behind two previous attacks.

The man was walking along Alfred Street in Bow, east London, between 12pm and 12.30pm on Monday October 21 when he was approached by another man.

The other man became verbally aggressive before threatening him with a crossbow. He then left the scene.

The victim was ‘shaken’ but not hurt during the incident, said the Metropolitan Police.

The force has released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the case.

Detective Inspector Nikki Hardy, from Central East BCU, said: ‘We would urge everyone to look at the photo and think about whether they recognise him or know where he may be.’

As part of their investigation, detectives are looking at whether there may be a connection between this incident and two crossbow shootings in east London in March this year and are ‘keeping an open mind’.

The attacks both happened in Shoreditch. One saw a 44-year-old struck in the head in Club Row, while the other left a 20-year-old man with a neck injury after he was hit by a dart from a crossbow in Arnold Circus a few days later.

It’s not thought their injuries were life-threatening or life-changing, but the assaults left many in the community scared to leave their homes.

The Met have urged anyone with information on the latest incident or the CCTV image to call 101 and give the reference 245/31OCT.

Information can also be given anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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