A convicted thug and a suspected rapist are among foreign criminals believed to be in London.

Patryk Kokoryk, 33, is wanted in Poland after being sentenced to eight months imprisonment on January 12, 2012, for assaulting a man with a wooden table leg.

On October 3, 2010, Kokoryk – a Polish national with previous links to Brent, Ealing and Harrow - and another man attacked the victim in Lublin, Poland, using the table leg to batter his chest and legs.

Abri Bucpapaj, 35, is wanted in Finland in connection with allegations of rape, assault and threats to kill.

Officers in Finland are investigating three allegations of assault against a child and a woman, the rape of a woman and threats to kill the woman and a man, in Oulu, Finland between July 2010 and November 2011.

They wish to speak to Albanian national Bucapapaj, who it is believed may be in Harrow, Barnet or Brent.

The Metropolitan Police is appealing for the public's help tracing 17 foreign nationals who are wanted by authorities across Europe and could be hiding in the UK. Many have links to London.

Anyone who sees these people should not approach them.

Detective Sergeant Peter Rance of the MPS Extradition Unit said: "We believe that these people are dangerous, so taking them out of our communities and putting them before the courts is of paramount importance.

"I urge the public to look closely at these pictures. Do you recognise these men? It may be that they live next door to you, or you see them regularly elsewhere in your community.

"If you have information on their whereabouts, please tell Crimestoppers, so that we can arrest them. If you see them, call 999 and do not approach them."