Victoria Police have released fresh images of a man they want to identify after an alleged attempted sexual assault on two women in Melbourne’s inner east ended in an extraordinary chase involving eight protective dogs.

The latest appeal comes days after detectives launched an investigation into the incident at Gardiners Creek in Kooyong, where two women were allegedly attacked in broad daylight before the dogs they were walking chased the alleged offender into a tunnel beneath the Monash Freeway.

Authorities are now hoping the newly released photographs, together with forensic evidence recovered at the scene, will help identify the man and advance an investigation that has attracted widespread public attention across Victoria.

According to police, the alleged attack occurred at about 11.30am on Tuesday while a 67-year-old woman from Toorak and a 39-year-old woman from Glen Iris were walking eight dogs along the popular Gardiners Creek trail.

Investigators say an unknown man suddenly emerged from nearby bushes and approached the women.

Police allege he first grabbed one of the women, who managed to break free, before turning his attention to the second woman. The women have since said the man allegedly demanded sex and attempted to force one of them towards a nearby tunnel, but both resisted and escaped his grasp.

What happened next has become one of the most remarkable aspects of the case.

The women were reportedly professional dog walkers caring for eight dogs of various breeds. As the confrontation unfolded, the dogs instinctively reacted, chasing the alleged attacker as he fled towards the freeway underpass.

Video later obtained by Australian media shows the man sprinting away while the dogs pursue him across the concrete creek area. At least one dog caught up with him during the chase, tearing away part of his trousers before he escaped into the tunnel beneath the Monash Freeway.

The torn piece of fabric has since become an important part of the investigation.

Victoria Police confirmed the clothing fragment has been seized and is undergoing forensic examination. Detectives hope the material could provide DNA or other forensic evidence capable of identifying the offender.

While forensic testing can take time, investigators often rely on biological traces, fibres or other physical evidence to strengthen criminal investigations where a suspect has not yet been identified.

The latest public appeal centres on two newly released images.

One photograph, captured approximately half an hour after the incident, allegedly shows the man walking calmly through a residential street near Fritsch Holzer Reserve in Hawthorn East, around three kilometres from where the alleged attack occurred.

Unlike earlier descriptions, the image shows the man without a face covering or hood, potentially giving investigators and members of the public a clearer opportunity to recognise him.

Police say he is carrying what appears to be the same bright blue backpack seen during the incident.

The second released image is an enhanced frame taken from footage showing the suspect running as the dogs close in behind him.

Earlier in the investigation, detectives distributed a facial composite based on witness information.

The man police wish to identify has been described as being between 18 and 22 years old, of African appearance, wearing black tracksuit pants, white socks, slides, a black and grey hooded jumper, a black face covering and carrying a bright blue backpack at the time of the alleged attack.

Police stress that the released images are intended to help identify a person they wish to speak with as part of the investigation. No charges have been laid, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The incident has generated significant concern because of both its location and timing.

Gardiners Creek is one of Melbourne’s most popular shared walking and cycling corridors, used daily by commuters, families, runners and dog walkers. Even during weekday mornings, the trail regularly attracts steady pedestrian traffic.

The alleged attack occurring in broad daylight has prompted renewed discussion about personal safety in public parks and walking tracks, particularly for women exercising alone or working outdoors.

Local residents have expressed shock that such an incident could occur in an area generally regarded as safe.

Some regular users of the trail have said they intend to remain vigilant while continuing to use the park, while others have welcomed the increased police presence following the incident.

Although the dramatic intervention by the dogs has captured widespread attention, investigators have emphasised that the focus remains on identifying the alleged offender and ensuring the women receive ongoing support.

The victims have reportedly said they refuse to allow the frightening experience to stop them enjoying Melbourne’s parks or continuing their work.

At the same time, they have encouraged others to remain aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious behaviour promptly.

The investigation is being led by the Bayside Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT), a specialist Victoria Police unit responsible for serious sexual offence investigations.

SOCIT detectives routinely combine witness interviews, CCTV analysis, forensic evidence and public information when investigating offences of this nature.

Police are continuing to examine CCTV from nearby streets, businesses and residences, together with any available dashcam footage captured around Kooyong and Hawthorn East during the relevant period.

The newly released still image is particularly significant because investigators believe it places the man in the area shortly after the alleged attack, potentially providing additional opportunities for witnesses to recognise him.

Authorities have urged anyone who saw a man matching the description, or anyone with footage from Tuesday morning around Kooyong, Hawthorn East or nearby suburbs, to contact Crime Stoppers.

Even seemingly minor details, police say, may help establish the man’s movements before or after the alleged incident.

The investigation also illustrates the increasing role played by forensic science in modern policing.

Physical evidence recovered from crime scenes—including clothing fragments, fibres and biological material—can often provide crucial investigative leads even when a suspect initially escapes.

Combined with CCTV technology and community assistance, such evidence has become an increasingly important component of complex criminal investigations across Australia.

For now, detectives continue to piece together the suspect’s movements before and after the alleged attack while awaiting the results of forensic analysis.

Victoria Police have again appealed for anyone who recognises the man shown in the newly released photographs—or who has information about the incident—to contact Crime Stoppers, as investigators work to identify the individual and determine the full circumstances surrounding the alleged attempted sexual assault.