Amelie copycat fears

Women living in the neighbourhood where Amelie Delagrange's killer struck fear a copycat attacker may be on the loose.

Police released an E-fit picture today of a suspect who bludgeoned a young mother over the head. The assault bore similarities to a series of attacks which included Miss Delagrange's murder on Twickenham Green last August.

Amy Foster, 27, needed stitches to a head wound and surgery on a broken finger after a man beat her over the head as she worked alone in her family's Twickenham florists. The assailant walked away without taking anything.

Like 22-year-old Miss Delagrange, Ms Foster is blonde and the man struck from behind. However, police have ruled out a connection to the murder of the French student and at least six other linked attacks on lone women, including the Hampton murder of Marsha McDonnell, also a student. In those cases the assailant struck from behind without warning and was not seen by his victims.

"I just find it bizarre that there are two madmen doing the same thing but it could be a copycat attack," Ms Foster said. "I used to love taking my daughter to the park but now I'll be worried there's someone lurking there."

Detectives investigating Ms Foster's attack are looking at records of care-in-the-community patients. They have appealed for information on the suspect, who wore a Russian-style hat with earmuffs.

Ms Foster, whose daughter is aged six, was working at Laisy Daisy on St Margaret's Road when the man entered the shop at

3.30pm on 2 March.

Described as a smartly dressed, light-skinned black man, about 6ft 3in with a faint goatee beard, the assailant had been in the shop days earlier.

Detective Sergeant Kevin McSharry said: "We cannot find any similar attacks to this and we desperately need to speak to anyone who may have seen this man."

Anyone with information should phone police on 020 8247 7096 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.