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TWO young women have been raped in a city centre within minutes of each other - by the same man.

The victims, aged 20 and 22 were attacked in Glasgow’s James Watt Street in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

At around 4am, police received a call from the 20-year-old who said she had been sexually assaulted in a carpark in the street, which is just off the Broomielaw.

A short time later, officers received a call from the second woman who had also been raped.

The victims are being supported by specially trained Sexual Offences Liaison Officers.

Office workers arrived in the city earlier today to find James Watt Street cordoned off, with officers standing guard at either end of the road, which leads on to Argyle Street.

Police are viewing CCTV footage from the area including a Scottish government building, and the nearby BT building in a bid to tracer the assailant.

He is described as a white male, aged between 20 and 30 years, approximately 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in in height, with a slim to medium build.

He has light or brown hair and spoke with a local accent.

At the time of the assaults he was smartly dressed wearing a fitted dark coloured long sleeved shirt, light or possibly grey coloured dress trousers and shoes.

Officer in charge of the incident, Detective Inspector Kate Jamieson, said: “These two separate incidents took place within a short space of time on James Watt Street.

"We are currently examining CCTV and carrying out extensive inquiries to identify the man responsible for these despicable attacks on two young women.

“I would appeal to anyone who was in or around the James Watt Street area of Glasgow around 0400 hours this morning and who may have seen a man hanging around or noticed anything out of the ordinary to contact officers as soon as possible.

“I would also ask anyone who can help identify this man to contact us as a matter of urgency."

She added: "The suspect was well dressed and potentially came from a Christmas night out.

"I do know that he was in the general area of Cadogan Street, Argyle Street and Broomielaw for approximately an hour from about 3.20am.

"Both the victims are extremely upset and distressed by the attacks."

An incident room has been set up in the city centre.