Two Men Injured In Halloween Homophobic Attack In London

Officers in Kingston Borough are appealing for witnesses and information following a homophobic attack on two men in Surbiton in the early hours of Saturday morning, 1 November.

Police were called at around 01:20hrs that day to reports of males fighting outside the KFC restaurant in Brighton Road, Surbiton.

Officers attended and found a 21-year-old man [victim1] suffering a head injury.

London Ambulance Service attended and the man was taken to hospital. He has since been discharged.

A second man with the victim, aged 18 [victim2], was also suffering minor facial injuries.

The Community Safety Unit on Kingston Borough is investigating and is treating the attack as a homophobic hate crime.

At this early stage it is understood both victims were walking along Victoria Road and as they passed a group of two men and three women outside the YMCA they were subjected to homophobic abuse from one of the two men.

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The two victims walked away but when they reached the zebra crossing nearby the two men [suspects 1 and 2] approached them and 'victim 2' was punched.

'Victim1' intervened to protect 'Victim2' and the suspects then assaulted him.

'Victim1' ended up on the floor where the suspects kicked and stamped on him.

Passers by intervened to stop the attack and the suspects both ran off along Victoria Road.

A search of the area by officers did not locate anyone matching the suspects' descriptions.

'Suspect1' has been described as: a white man, aged in his late twenties, with fair hair that was shaven, a muscular build, short in height, and wearing a pink tutu.

'Suspect2' has been described as; a white man, also aged in his late twenties, with brown short hair, and also wearing a pink tutu.

A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

He was arrested on Tuesday, 4 November for grievous bodily harm and common assault and remains at a west London police station.

Enquires continue regarding the identity of the second suspect.

Trainee Detective Constable Ann-Marie Hodgkiss, the officer in the case, said: "This was a violent and unprovoked hate crime and I am appealing for anyone with any information about the incident to contact me.

"The two suspects were distinctively dressed, probably due to Halloween, and I would urge anyone who recognises their description and who may know who they are to contact me and help us trace them."

Any witnesses or anyone with any information are asked to call the Community Safety Unit at Kingston Police Station on 0208 721 5858 or via 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.