Gay man fighting for life after gang's homophobic attack in Hackney Road, Shoreditch
Gay attack
A MAN is fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed seven times by a gang of youths during a brutal homophobic attack in London.
The 20-year-old victim was with a female friend outside a gay-friendly pub in Shoreditch when they were surrounded by five teenage boys.
They verbally abused him before smashing a bottle over his head and stabbing him seven times in the back and torso.
Police believe the victim was targeted because of his sexuality and have launched an attempted murder investigation following the attack last Thursday near the George and Dragon pub in Hackney Road.
The man, known as "Olly", was rushed to Royal London hospital where he had emergency surgery on Friday. He is now in a critical condition.
Det Insp Howard Way of Tower Hamlets described the attack as "evil" and said while it was being treated as a homophobic attack, he was keeping an open mind about the motive.
The attack has shocked the area's gay community and is the 47th homophobic attack reported in Tower Hamlets in the past 12 months.
Gay community member Alan Booth, 45, said: "It has just got worse and worse around here - it's left people frightened to go out.
"The problem is with a minority of Bengali youths. It's time we got people together to discuss what we can do to make it safer for the gay community."
Three men have been arrested and released on police bail.
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