WASHINGTON (AP) — American University in Washington says four female students have been fondled while walking near the campus in the past week.

The university issued a campus alert about the attacks Monday. School spokeswoman Maralee Csellar says the attacks have occurred since Sept. 24 and were all reported to university public safety officials on Monday.

The women told authorities that they were approached from behind between the late evening and early morning while walking along the 4200-block of Massachusetts Avenue. Csellar says that area is often traveled by students, but it is off-campus.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)