NEWS: Police Appeal For Witnesses After Anti-Gay Attack On Picadilly Line

<p>British Transport Police (BTP) are looking for witnesses after a man assaults two passengers and makes homophobic remarks.</p> <p>by Newsdesk | 13th August 2013</p><p></p><p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4592026802.jpg" width="460" height="460" alt="British Transport Police" title="British Transport Police"/></p> <p></p><p>* Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man and woman were assaulted on the Tube.</p><p></p><p>* The incident happened around 3pm on Monday, 8 July onboard an eastbound Piccadilly line train travelling between Hounslow East and Northfields London Underground (LU) stations.</p><p></p><p>* News comes same day as BTP release data showing that homophobic attacks on the UK's transport system have risen from 2011/12 to 2012/13</p><p></p><p></p><p>PC Paul Franklin, the investigating officer, said: “Three men and a woman were standing on the platform at Hounslow East LU station when a man made homophobic remarks towards them.</p><p></p><p>“The argument continued on the train and the woman was assaulted by the man.</p><p></p><p>“A member of the public then intervened and he too was assaulted by the man. The altercation spilled out on to the platform at Northfields LU station and the victim left the station before police arrived.”</p><p></p><p>PC Franklin added: “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and, at this stage, I am appealing for anyone who was at the station to come forward with information about what they saw.”</p><p></p><p>A 27-year-old man from Hounslow has been arrested in connection with the incident and bailed pending further enquiries.</p><p></p><p>9 Fold Increase in Homophobic Attacks</p><p></p><p>BTP also revealed statistics that show recorded offences of homophobic crimes reported on the London Underground have risen 9 fold in the period 1st Oct 2011 - 31st January 2012 to 1st Oct 2012 - 31st January 2013.</p><p></p><p>Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016, quoting reference B3/LUA of 12/08/13 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Related Stories:</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/NEWS-Reports-Of-Homophobic-Crime-Drop-In-London/5514757">NEWS: Reports Of Homophobic Crime Drop In London</a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p>