Man charged after sex workers violently assaulted: Winnipeg police

A Winnipeg Police Service cruiser is shown in an undated file image. (CTV News Winnipeg)

A 19-year-old man has been charged after multiple sex workers in Winnipeg were allegedly violently sexually assaulted over a period of several months.

The police service’s sex crimes unit started the investigation in April 2025.

According to police the first incident took place on April 25. They say a man arranged to meet a female sex trade worker in the 1400 block of St. Matthews Avenue. The woman was sexually assaulted with a weapon, and the man fled the area. The woman was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police say a second assault took place in the 300 block of Hargrave Street on May 10. A female sex worker was seriously sexually assaulted and was robbed of her cellphone at knifepoint. The victim was taken to hospital, and investigators identified a suspect.

Police arrested a suspect at a business in the 1600 block of Kenaston Boulevard in connection with the April and May assaults on Oct 13.

Mohammed Al-Samraei, 19, was charged with multiple offences, including two counts of sexual assault with a weapon, overcome resistance by attempting to choke, suffocate or strangle another person, assault, uttering threats, theft under $5,000, and multiple firearm-related offences. He was detained in custody.

During the investigation, police allege Al-Samraei was involved in a third sexual assault of a sex trade worker on Oct. 4 in the 1700 block of Sargent Avenue.

He was arrested in the Winnipeg Remand Centre on Oct. 19 on a warrant for sexual assault.

Al-Samraei remains in custody. None of the charges have been proven in court.

Police are asking anyone who may have been victim to similar incidents to call the Counter Exploitation Unit at 204-986-3464.