In a series of disturbing incidents that have sent shockwaves through communities across the United Kingdom, multiple asylum seekers have been convicted or accused of sexual assaults and rapes over the past year. The cases, which span from London to Cardiff to the Scottish town of Elgin, highlight both the harrowing experiences of the victims and the complex challenges faced by the UK’s asylum and criminal justice systems.
On September 20, 2025, the heart of London became the scene of a chilling attack. According to Metro, Moustafa Elbohy, a 31-year-old Egyptian national who arrived in Britain just three months prior on a dinghy, allegedly used a translation app to communicate a sexual threat before raping a woman twice near Charing Cross train station. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, had been attempting to return home after a work night out when she encountered Elbohy and his friends at the station. Despite not speaking English, Elbohy reportedly asked for her name, put his arm around her, and led her away from the station—even as she tried to board her train.
The attack, which took place on a nearby rooftop, was reportedly captured on CCTV. The victim later told police that Elbohy ripped her clothes off and raped her. She managed to escape by climbing over a wall and calling a friend for help, after which the incident was reported to police at Charing Cross station. Elbohy, whose asylum claim had been dismissed in September, was charged with sexual assault and possession of cannabis. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 29, 2025, where his defense argued that he suffered from depression, insomnia, anxiety, and claustrophobia. However, the magistrate denied bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations. Elbohy did not enter a plea and remains in custody, with a further court appearance scheduled for November 26 at Southwark Crown Court. As he was led away, he shouted, “I will not be able to sleep in prison. I will die. Put me in a hospital or anywhere else.”
Just months earlier, Cardiff witnessed a similarly traumatic event. On May 12, 2024, Fawaz Alsamaou, a 33-year-old asylum seeker from Syria living in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, followed a woman as she walked home from a nightclub in the early hours. According to BBC News and WalesOnline, Alsamaou strangled and sexually assaulted the 24-year-old victim under a railway bridge in Cathays. The woman, who had left Pulse nightclub around 4 a.m., was grabbed by the neck and pulled under the bridge, where Alsamaou put his hand under her dress and assaulted her. She managed to push him away and flee, calling the police immediately.
The impact of the attack on the victim’s life has been profound. In her statement read to Newport Crown Court, she said, “I'm always looking over my shoulder and thinking the worst. At the start I couldn't work and I didn't leave my house for two weeks. I feel uneasy when it’s dark outside. It has really affected my social life and I don't go out like I used to. I suffer with my mental health generally but this incident really hit that harder. I can barely sleep and I have nightmares relating to it. I'm working to get over it but this isn't something you can just recover from.” She also revealed she was unable to return to work for two to three months due to anxiety and that the time off caused additional stress.
Police identified Alsamaou using CCTV footage and a public appeal on BBC Crimewatch. He was arrested in Huddersfield, where he had been living since arriving in the UK from Syria. At Newport Crown Court on October 31, 2025, Alsamaou pleaded guilty to sexual assault and intentional strangulation and was sentenced to three years and one month in prison. Judge Celia Hughes remarked during sentencing, “It was a horrible attack on a woman alone at night in Cardiff. She was entitled to walk home alone at night without being attacked by you, a predatory man. You say that you’re a practising Muslim but your behaviour that night casts doubt on the practise of your faith. It must have been a petrifying incident for her and had lasting impact on her life.” The judge also noted that Alsamaou was highly likely to be deported after serving his sentence.
Another unsettling episode unfolded on the London Underground. On September 2, 2024, Muslih Alotaibi, a 39-year-old asylum seeker from Saudi Arabia with no fixed address, groped a 17-year-old girl on a Central line train near Oxford Circus. MyLondon reports that Alotaibi sat next to the teenager despite many empty seats, placed a jacket over his lap, and sexually assaulted her. A fellow passenger witnessed the incident, intervened, and—along with other passengers—prevented Alotaibi from leaving the train. He was arrested at Mile End station. Alotaibi was subsequently sentenced to 19 weeks in prison, ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge, and must register with the police for seven years. Detective Constable Julie Skinner praised the public’s intervention, saying, “Alotaibi acted in an abhorrent and predatory manner towards this young woman, but the selfless actions of those on the train who noticed something was wrong and offered to help her kept her safe from further assault and ensured we were able to arrest Alotaibi and bring him to justice.”
Meanwhile, in Scotland, a 17-year-old girl was raped in Cooper Park, Elgin, Moray, by Rapualla Ahmadze, a 21-year-old Afghan asylum seeker. As reported by The Scottish Sun, Ahmadze approached the teenager, who was struggling with mental health issues and out walking late at night, and claimed he would be her boyfriend. He led her to a tunnel, molested her, and then raped her in the bushes. Ahmadze denied the charges, insisting the encounter was consensual, but was unanimously found guilty by the High Court in Edinburgh on October 29, 2025. The trial judge, Thomas Welsh KC, told Ahmadze, “Custody is inevitable in your case.” Ahmadze was placed on the sex offenders’ register and remanded in custody pending sentencing.
These cases have reignited debates around the UK’s asylum system, public safety, and the integration of new arrivals. While authorities stress that such stranger attacks are rare, the high-profile nature of these crimes has led to calls for more robust checks and support mechanisms for both asylum seekers and vulnerable members of the public. Police and community leaders have also urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious behaviour, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and intervention in preventing further harm.
As the victims continue their journeys toward recovery, the legal proceedings against the perpetrators serve as a stark reminder of the challenges facing both individuals and institutions in safeguarding communities. The stories of those affected, and the swift actions of bystanders and law enforcement, underscore the resilience and compassion that persist even in the face of tragedy.
