Five men including one aged 17 have been arrested by police hunting a serial sex attacker targeting young women on night buses.
Scotland Yard have released CCTV footage of the suspect after returning to the scene of the most recent attack — at 3.30am on July 11 in East Ham — to appeal for information.
Detectives are linking this attempted rape to two previous rapes and a robbery on women in Newham and Waltham Forest.
A 29-year-old man arrested on suspicion of rape on Tuesday has been released under investigation. Three other males, aged 23, 26 and 27, were arrested for the same offence and bailed.
The 17-year-old who was arrested was released with no further action over the rape allegation but remains on bail for robbery.
The attacks began with the rape of a 35-year-old woman in Chadwin Road, Plaistow, at 2.40am on July 1.
Five days later, a woman was followed and robbed in St Mary’s Road near Leyton Tube station at 3.25am. The attacker ran off when her screams alerted a passer-by.
At 4.20am the same night, a 31-year-old woman was punched in the face by a man who then raped her in Amethyst Road, Waltham Forest.
In the fourth attack, on July 11, another woman aged 31 was followed by a man who attempted to rape her at about 3.30am in Central Park Road, East Ham. He stole her phone after her shouts were heard.
Detective Chief Inspector Ann-Marie Waller said the investigation was progressing.
Anyone who can identify the man is asked to call 020 8217 7477, or Crimestoppers.
