Police charge suspect in home invasion sex assaults
'It appears to be random'
Toronto police have arrested and charged a man with a number of offences in connection with a home invasion and the sexual assault of two women on Monday.
Alaa Hejazi, 20, turned himself in after his image was published and broadcast in the media one day after the alleged assaults.
The charges are:
- breaking and entering
- threatening bodily harm
- sexual assault with a weapon
- robbery
- threatening death
- possession of property obtained by crime
The incident happened in the Lawrence Avenue West and Avenue Road area at about 10: 30 a.m. on Monday, when a man pretending to sell newspapers forced his way inside a home.
Two women, one 25 and one 30, were then sexually assaulted at knifepoint, police say.
On Tuesday police released a picture of the suspect aboard a TTC bus.
Det.-Sgt. Leanne Papizewski of the police sex crimes unit said she doesn't have any information that Hejazi has been involved in other crimes.
"It appears random," she told a news conference at Toronto Police headquarters. "But we will continue to investigate."
Hejazi is due to make a court appearance on Wednesday.