Police appeal for Northern Ireland victims of serial rapist Zhenhao Zou

Police in Northern Ireland have renewed their appeal for potential victims of serial rapist Zhenhao Zou to come forward, fearing that many may not realize they have been victimized. Zou, 28, was convicted of 11 rapes involving 10 women in both the UK and China, and has been described as one of the UK's most prolific sex offenders. Since a public appeal was launched in March 2025, 23 women have reported incidents to the Metropolitan Police, but no reports have emerged from Northern Ireland where Zou studied from 2017 to 2019. Detective Chief Inspector Stephanie Finlay emphasized the importance of coming forward, particularly for those who may have met Zou socially or through social media and subsequently felt uneasy about their encounters. Zou's method involved drugging victims, often through drinks, leading to a loss of consciousness during the assaults. The police are particularly concerned that some victims may be unaware of the assault due to Zou's manipulative tactics.