Police “urgently” want to find a man who is violently pulling lone cyclists off their bikes at night in Utrecht and have issued an international warrant for his arrest.

The man, whose identity is known to police, pulled a 19-year-old woman off her bike when she was cycling from the centre of Utrecht in the direction of the Science Park late at night on Monday, local broadcaster RTV Utrecht said.

The woman, who managed to run away, said a car drove towards her, stopped, and a man came out and dragged her from her bike.

A similar incident happened a few days earlier. Police are not giving out any details about it but said the same man may be implicated and that he may strike again.

“What happened is very serious and there is no telling what might have happened if the girl hadn’t got away,” a police spokesman said.

The police are calling on the public for tips on his whereabouts. An international warrant for his arrest has been issued because he may be abroad.