Sunday, September 07, 2008

Gay bashing

Gay man fights for life after homophobic attack
By 365gay Newscenter Staff

(London) Three teenagers are in police custody following a vicious unprovoked attack in East London that has left a gay man in hospital fighting for his life.

The 20-year old victim, whose name is being withheld by police for his protection, was stabbed seven times.

The attacked occurred as the man and his female friend were walking towards a gay-friendly bar. Police said five teens swarmed the victim and the woman. They yelled homophobic taunts at the man, before beating him over the head with a bottle and then stabbing him in the back and torso.

He was rushed to Royal London hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and was listed Thursday in serious condition.

Investigators are continuing to search for two other teens involved in the attack. They said that the teens could be charged with attempted murder, but that could be upgraded to murder if the victim succumbs to his injuries.

“What we’re concentrating on is tracking down and bringing to justice the people who committed this evil crime,” Det. Insp. Howard Way told the local newspaper The East London Advertiser.

It was the 47th homophobic attack in East London in the past 12 months.

Local politicians appealed for calm in the area’s substantial gay community, as demands for greater police protection rose on Thursday.

“This is a sickening and vile assault,” said George Galloway, the Member of Parliament for the area.

“A near fatal knife attack on a defenseless man is horrific enough. The fact that this also appears to be a homophobic hate crime compounds the evil.”

Crush du Jour: Michael Ballack

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I note that not much is mentioned about the teens that did the attack but I get the distinct feeling they were Muslim.