A gay couple have needed hospital treatment after a ‘horrendous attack’ on the eve of the 50th anniversary of London Pride. The two men – one of whom is performing in the London Gay Men’s Chorus today – were targeted in the early hours of Saturday after leaving a bar in Mile End. A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, but it is believed more than one person was involved. The victims, one in his 30s and the other in his 40s, were taken to hospital and released after treatment, the Metropolitan Police said. The incident is being treated as a suspected homophobic hate crime “due to insults shouted” by the perpetrators. The London Gay Men’s Chorus described the attack as a “horrific attack”, which it said reinforced the importance of opposition to homophobia. The group is taking part in Saturday’s Pride event in London, which this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first UK pride parade. Peter Ptashko, chairman of the choir said: “This terrible attack only serves to underline how important it remains to fight homophobia and all forms of discrimination. “After 30 years, our mission of ‘social justice through song’ has never been more important to achieve a more equal, diverse and inclusive society that we all need today more than ever.” Police have appealed for any witnesses who have not yet spoken to officers to contact them. Contact our news team by emailing us at [email protected] For more stories like this, check out our news page.
