A Central Coast community is on high alert with fears a camouflage-wearing sexual predator has struck again, just weeks after dragging a 12-year-old girl into bushland and assaulted her at knifepoint.
An 18-year-old girl has told police a man grabbed her around the neck after she got off a train at Narara Railway Station on Sunday afternoon.
The incident occurred about two kilometres from where the schoolgirl was attacked in mid-May.
The attacker, thought to be in his mid-20s, was wearing a grey hooded jumper, long camouflage pants and had a loose covering over his face that exposed his eyes and nose.
The teenager attacked on Sunday kicked the man and broke free before running off and screaming for help.
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She then rang triple-zero after seeing the man walk away towards Narara Valley Drive.
"The fact this person was wearing camouflage clothing and covering their face is a concern to us and shows the level of criminality of the person involved," Detective Acting Superintendent Mick Haddow told AAP on Monday.
Police said the description of the man was "strikingly similar" to the one given by the schoolgirl who was abducted while walking to school alone on May 15.
Her attacker was wearing a knitted camouflage shirt, camouflage pants and a camouflage hat and had a loose covering over his face.
He dragged the terrified girl to nearby bushland, tied her up and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint.
She managed to escape and was treated at Gosford Hospital for her injuries.
More than 1000 people have shared an online a post by Brisbane Water Police about the attack.
One member of the community in an open letter described her disgust and anger toward the attacker.
"This brave little girl will be admired for her strength and bravery and will be protected by the community during all that lay ahead of her," the letter states.
Act Supt Haddow said police received numerous tips after the first attack, and investigations often turned on information supplied by members of the public.
He urged members of the public to consider if they knew anyone who fitted the description or owned similar camouflage clothes.
"It's concerning to us that this person might live in the area," the detective said in Sydney.
