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Two gay men attacked in Edinburgh

Rachel Badham August 9, 2021

Three people have been arrested after two gay men, who are thought to be a married couple, were violently attacked on Edinburgh’s Leith Street on July 30. According to the Edinburgh Evening News, the incident happened at around 9.20 pm, with an eye-witness seeing a group of four men kick and punch the pair before stealing one of their bags and fleeing the scene. 

The eye-witness added: “It was unprovoked entirely – the [victims] did not fight back, they only tried to defend themselves…The boys were laughing, egging each other on and calling the victims p**fs.” The attack is now being investigated as a hate crime, with police announcing on August 7 that three men, aged  23, 22 and 21, have been arrested in connection with the incident. 

An image of the attack, taken by an eye-witness. Photo: Edinburgh Evening News.

The suspected perpetrators are now due to appear at the Edinburgh Sheriff Court. Detective inspector Mark McGraw condemned the attack, saying: “Any form of hate crime has a huge impact on those targeted. An attack on people because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race or beliefs, is abhorrent and will not be tolerated.”

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