Londonderry: Rally held in response to reported attacks on women

'No women should live in fear': rally held after knifepoint attacks Hundreds of people are attending a rally to oppose violence against women and girls in Londonderry in the wake of two reported knifepoint attacks in the city.

A woman was assaulted at knifepoint in Drumahoe last Friday, while on Saturday afternoon a woman walking her dog in Top of the Hill was approached by a man holding a kitchen knife.

Extra officers were deployed in the city following the attacks, but Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said on Thursday that sustaining that policing operation would be "a challenge" .

Organisers of the rally at Guildhall Square on Friday said it was held to show solidarity with the women attacked and demonstrate that these kind of incidents will not be tolerated.

'Things haven't gotten better' Diane Greer, who lives in the Waterside, said she was a keynote speaker at a rally in Guildhall Square more than 35 years ago that was calling for greater safety for women and said it's bitterly disappointing to see that things have not really improved.

"I remember we held that rally after there was a spate of attacks on women near Derry Walls and we decided to have a rally involving a number of women's organisations," she said.

"There was about a hundred women who met in the Diamond and marched down Shipquay Street and held a rally in Guildhall Square, just like this one," she said.

"It's incredibly disappointing, desperately sad really, that again after all the years, after another spate of attacks, here we are again."

Ms Greer said there is "definitely a sense of fear out there" and said she has noticed that she has "moderated her own behaviour" because she no longer feels safe to do certain things she once enjoyed.

"I love walking in forests and exploring remote places on my own, but I no longer feel safe to do that," she said.

"I have a daughter and I have granddaughters and I am here today for them really because they should not have to live in fear - no women should live in fear."

Glen Millar and Fifi Garrett handed out personal attack alarms at Friday ahead of this evening's rally.

"These recent attacks have been deeply shocking to many people throughout the local community," he said.

"Talk isn't enough and we need to take action and a rally like this shows that we support the women in our city.

"I think there is definitely a recognition and acceptance that men need to do more and should be calling out predatory behaviour when they see it and challenge it.

"We want people to understand that sometimes what people may think is 'a silly wee joke' is creating a narrative that isn't healthy and isn't welcome and can feed into some other behaviours."

Mr Millar said handing out alarms is "a small thing" to help people feel safer in the here and now, but said a longer-term strategy is necessary to tackle this societal problem, with a particular focus needed on educating young men going forward.

Shannon Shiels told BBC News NI that she wanted to attend the rally because she is "sick and tired of looking over her shoulder everywhere I go".

"I can't walk my dog at night alone without bringing a torch with me or telling someone where I am," she said.

"I'm sick of the onus always being us as women to do these things to feel safe, it shouldn't be up to us."