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The London Monster: A Reign of Terror
In the grim shadows of 1788 London, a nameless assailant emerged, plunging the city into a two-year reign of terror. Known only as “The Monster,” this elusive figure stalked the streets, targeting unsuspecting women with brutal knife attacks. Despite the capture and trial of a suspect, Rhynwick Williams, the true identity of the attacker remained shrouded in mystery, leaving Londoners to question whether the Monster was a single individual or a chilling manifestation of collective hysteria.
A big, unnamed man approached a woman who was alone in the streets in 1788, marking the first attack. She started to move away, startled by his presence, and he quickly caught up to her, shouting profanities. Then, before aid could arrive, he took out a knife, stabbed her in the buttocks, and fled. The victim was able to provide the Bow Street Runners, London’s first official police force, with a description of the assailant, and the attacker was given the nickname “the Monster” by the media. As more attacks transpired, the strategies and even the Monster’s description changed significantly.
According to some versions, he used blades that he had strapped around his knees, while other accounts said he used a phony nosegay with a blade hidden inside the flower. He would stab a potential victim in the face if they dared to sniff it. The majority of tales do, however…
