More than 30 women attended a free self-defence course in Derry as police in the city search for a man who attacked two women there last weekend.
Police said they believed the attacks were linked, and the motive had been sexual.
The women gathered at a gym last night for two hours of instruction on how to protect themselves.
Participants said they were angry that they had been placed in such a position by the actions of a man who assaulted two women at knifepoint in separate city parks last weekend.
But they said the self-defence class also gave them a sense that they were taking back some control of the situation.
There has been a high profile policing operation in Derry since the twin attacks.
Patrolling has been stepped up in public parks and the two victims have been interviewed, but so far there has been no arrest.
Both women were able to fight off their assailant.
One attack took place at night, the other in mid-afternoon.
Taking part in the class were several people who regularly use the parks where the women were attacked.
All spoke of their heightened fear and how they had changed their patterns of behaviour.
Blaithín Thomasius has recently returned to Derry after studying and working elsewhere.
"I've come back to Derry, and I don't really recognise my city.
"Before, me and my best friend would have felt so comfortable on nights out, walking home together, getting in any random taxi, just feeling free in our city.
"Now I'm older and wiser than I've ever been before, and I wouldn't feel as independent, especially with what's been going on."
Kiera Grant said women were angry but also grateful for the outpouring of condemnation of what had happened.
"I just think that it's really sad that a lot of women have felt that their sense of freedom has been encroached.
"It's a very scary time, and I think that there's a lot of anger.
"At a time where a woman's attacked in broad daylight, it's just unacceptable.
"There are things you take for granted, doing your shopping, going to work, going for a walk.
"And I feel that when you have to start to plan your route even during the daytime, things have gone too far".
Paula Moorehouse said the fact that one of the attacks had been in daylight had left women with a heightened sense of fear.
"I think it's because we're all aware of having to be careful in dark areas or anywhere that is very lonely.
"But now it's daylight, and all of a sudden it's a different fear, you know. And everybody is feeling it, everybody talks about it.
"We were just saying, you're actually beginning to feel it around the house now you know, you're checking doors.
"It's a knock on it doesn't leave, you know, women are very concerned".
Peter Day of Lifestyle Combat put on the course and said there would be another later in the week which women could attend.
He said there has been a phenomenal response and he had been overwhelmed by the level of interest.
He said the most important things women could do to protect themselves was to be aware of their surroundings and use anything they had to hand if they were forced to act to protect themselves.
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