Six men aged between 16 and 22 have been arrested after a suspected homophobic hate crime attack last month, in which a gay man was hit with a plank of wood.
Callum Griggs, 23, was attacked by the gang while he was walking with his partner, Brad Balueta, who said the gang were standing outside a takeaway at the time of the attack. Balueta said they began to jeer each other on, and that one of the perpetrators grabbed a wooden panel with nails in.
Griggs was struck round the head with the plank and had to go to hospital for treatment. Ballet was not injured in the attack.
Chief Inspector Chris Nixon of the Metropolitan Police, said: “We are aware of the corrosive effect of hate crime and remain determined to bring those responsible for such crimes to justice.
“I hope that these arrests will send out a signal to those who think they can get away with homophobic abuse and violence that we will track you down.”
The Force added that an LGBTQ+ liaison officer has been assigned to support the victims.
Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
