Edmonton police are warning women walking in the area of the University of Alberta to be careful when walking after dark.

The warning comes after an alleged early-morning assault on Sunday, August 25, 2013.

Police said it happened near 111 Street and 82 Avenue around 3:30 a.m. A 26-year-old woman was walking home from work when she says she was suddenly hit in the face from behind.

According to police, the woman fell to the ground before the suspect choked her. The man ran away so the woman went into her apartment building lobby. Moments later, the woman said the man reappeared and tried to get into the building by violently banging on the lobby window.

The suspect is described as:

Male

183 cm (6’0” tall)

Wearing a bright blue ski mask

Police have investigated more than a dozen similar attacks on women in the Whyte Avenue area since February 2012 but the incidents do not appear to be connected.

Anyone with information regarding this assault is asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).