The 35-year-old man, who is originally from Turkey, is believed to be responsible for two violent rapes in 2013 in Znojmo in the Czech Republic. He’s also suspected of physically assaulting a woman in Vienna in 2015, as well as an attempted rape earlier this year. Police are appealing for any further victims to come forward.

The man was arrested a few days ago in the Czech Republic and extradited to Vienna, where he’s a resident. He’s been charged with four criminal offences and is being held in pretrial custody.

“The two rapes took place in April and June 2013,” police spokesman Thomas Keiblinger said. In the first case, a 19-year-old woman was assaulted on a lawn in a public space. The second victim was only 18 at the time, and she was also strangled and beaten.

In 2015 he allegedly followed a 21-year-old woman home in the Ottakring district of Vienna, where he also lives. He physically attacked her but her neighbours heard her screaming and came to her help and he fled. In August he is accused of dragging a 26-year-old woman into a bush in Ottakring and attempting to rape her. Luckily a group of people who were passing by noticed what was happening and scared him off.

Police in Vienna were able to find traces of the suspect’s DNA and track him down. One of his victims also recognised him from a photo. The accused denies all the charges.

He is described as 1.70 meters tall and slender, but strong. Detectives say he changed his appearance several times since 2013, with different hairstyles and beard lengths.

Vienna police are asking anyone who may have been assaulted by the suspect to contact them on 01/31310-33 800.