A Winnipeg Police Service shoulder badge is seen at the Public Information Office in Winnipeg, on September 2, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski)
A 19-year-old Winnipeg man is in custody after a months-long police investigation surrounding violent sexual assaults against women working in the sex-trade.
Winnipeg police launched the investigation in April 2025 after multiple assaults were reported in different parts of the city.
On April 25, a woman was sexually assaulted with a weapon in the 1400 block of St. Matthews Avenue. On May 10, another woman was assaulted and robbed at knifepoint in the 300 block of Hargrave Street. Police later connected a third assault, which occurred on October 4 in the 1700 block of Sargent Avenue.
Investigators arrested Mohammed Al-Samraei on October 13 at a business in the 1600 block of Kenaston Boulevard. He has been charged with multiple offences, including two counts of sexual assault with a weapon, pointing a firearm, assault, choking, and uttering threats.
Police later charged him in connection with the October 4 assault as well. Al-Samraei remains in custody at the Winnipeg Remand Centre.
Police are asking anyone who may have been a victim of a similar incident to contact investigators at (204) 986-3464 or email wps-ceu@winnipeg.ca.
