Gardai are investigating a possible link between four violent attacks on women near a midlands college.

A major hunt is under way for a man who sexually assaulted a 19-year-old Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) student in the early hours of yesterday morning.

It is believed the attacker dragged his victim over a wall and took her to a field at around 2.30am. The incident happened in the Bonavalley Bridge area of Athlone, Co Westmeath, just a few hundred yards from AIT.

The student was walking between Bonavalley Bridge and the old Chadwicks factory on the Dublin Road when the attack took place.

Gardai believe there are similar traits between this attack and three other assaults which happened in August, September and October 2007. In all of the cases the women were grabbed from behind, but gardai say it is "too early" to connect the four incidents.

It has emerged that first-year students at AIT were given information on personal safety last week as part of student induction. A statement from the Students' Union at AIT said the message will be reinforced to students not to walk alone and to "remain vigilant".

Local councillor Paul Hogan said students were "nervous" about walking on their own.

Richard Owen in Perugia

Full story at-http://www.independent.ie/national-news/sex-attack-link-investigated-as-fourth-woman-is-assaulted-1476797.html

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