Three men charged over attacks on women in Sydney — ABC News Australia

In Sydney, Australia, three men have been charged in connection with two allegedly planned attacks on women in their homes. Police are also investigating whether the group may have been preparing to target another woman as a third victim, ABC News Australia reports.

Two incidents in Sydney

According to police, the group allegedly sexually assaulted a 31-year-old woman in Arncliffe on September 29. Two days later, the same group allegedly attacked a 32-year-old woman in an apartment in Bankstown.

Law enforcement officials said that in both cases, the women were strangled, beaten and tied up, and money was stolen. Detective Superintendent Virginia Gorman, commander of the Sexual Crimes Squad, said investigators believe the attacks were premeditated. According to her, the attackers may have gathered information about the victims and assumed they would be home alone and have money.

Gorman said the attackers were armed with a knife and used adhesive tape to bind the women. She condemned the excessive brutality of the attacks and noted that the physical injuries were minor, but the psychological trauma may require a lengthy recovery.

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Searches and charges

Police established Task Force Forela jointly with the Sexual Crimes Squad for the investigation. On Thursday, detectives, supported by the Public Order and Riot Squad, carried out searches in Belmore, Punchbowl and Greenacre in southwestern Sydney.

A 20-year-old man was arrested in Belmore. Among other charges, he is accused of aggravated break and enter, deprivation of liberty, aggravated robbery, two counts of strangulation, assault, and participating in a group using a weapon with intent to commit a crime.

A 19-year-old Punchbowl resident was charged with a number of offences, including aggravated break and enter, deprivation of liberty, two counts of strangulation and two counts of aggravated sexual assault. An 18-year-old man arrested in Greenacre is accused of aggravated break and enter, deprivation of liberty, aggravated robbery and two counts of strangulation.

Court proceedings

All three men were refused bail. Their cases were due to be heard in court on Friday.