Following two homophobic hate crime attacks in Vauxhall over the weekend police are appealing for witnesses to come forward to help identify three suspects pictured below- a man wearing a blue jacket and two women.
If you have any information please contact Lambeth Community Safety Unit on 0208 649 2176 or 07909 906 168.
Please quote crime reference numbers 1217303/14 & 1217300/14.
Breaking News – the two women have handed themselves into the police. Police are just looking for the man – and any independent witnesses who saw what happened to come forward.
Three suspects – Man and Two women
In the first incident, at approximately 4am on Sunday morning (8th June 2014), a substance was sprayed in the faces of two young men outside the Lightbox nightclub in South Lambeth Place, Vauxhall.
A short time later, police were made aware of a third man who was also sprayed in the face with a substance in the vicinity of the nightclub.
The three victims were treated for chemical burns at a local hospital, one of the victims is dealing with chemical burns in his left eye whilst another had a swollen tongue where the chemical got into his mouth.
The incidents have been reports across the media and an appeal is being shared across social networking sites.
If witnesses are uncomfortable speaking directly to the police then they can speak to GALOP on 020 7704 2040, the LGBT anti-hate crime charity that offer free confidential help and support.
Alternatively, people can speak to Lambeth’s Hate Crime Coordinator Mark Healey at Lambeth Council on 020 7926 2796 mhealey1@lambeth.gov.uk
Mark Healey commented
“We are appealing for witnesses to come forward as soon as possible to help us identify the three suspects who have been spotted on local cctv. Whilst the police carrying out their investigations a Gold Group has been set up to bring together key members of the local community together with the police and council to coordinate our response to these incidents – to provide support and advice to those who have been attacked, to appeal for witnesses to come forward so that we can bring those responsible to justice, and to see what we can do to prevent this happening again. Thankfully these extreme types of attacks are extremely rare but let us be clear there is no place for any form of hate in Lambeth.”
Regional media
- Evening Standard – Clubber sprayed with bleach outside Vauxhall bar in homophobic attack may never see again – A clubber sprayed with bleach in a homophobic attack outside a popular nightclub in south London’s “gay district” has been warned by doctors he could lose his eyesight
- ITV London – Clubbers sprayed with bleach in homophobic attack – Three men have been sprayed in the face with bleach in Vauxhall in what police are treating as a homophobic hate crime.
- BBC News London – Men sprayed in face in homophobic attack in Vauxhall
- London Live – Clubber sprayed in face with bleach in homophobic attack could be blinded
- BBC News London – Police appeal for man in ‘ammonia attack’ in Vauxhall
National Media
- The Independent – Man could be blinded after being sprayed with ‘ammonia’ in homophobic attack in London
- The Huffington Post – Homophobic Ammonia Nightclub attack: Victim may never see again
- Mirror – Clubber blinded after being sprayed with ammonia in homophobic attack outside London nightclub
- The Telegraph – Gay Clubber ‘Blinded’ by ammonia as women hurl homophobic abuse
- The Daily Mail – ‘I thought I would never see again and my face was melting’: Hunt for attackers who squirted clubbers in face with bleach outside gay club in homophobic hate crime.
- ampp3d from Mirror – Vauxhall bleach attack – 1% of gay people will experience a violent attack each year
International Media
- International Business Times – London Clubbers sprayed with Ammonia in suspected homoophobic attack outside Vauxhall nightclub
LGBT Media
- Pink News – Clubber may lose eyesight after homophobic bleach attack outside Vauxhall Nightclub
- Attitude Magaxine – Gay men attacked with bleach in Vauxhall.
- Pink News – Two Women come forward in police appeal following Vauxhall homophobic bleach attack
- Pink News – Police continue search for suspect in homophobic bleach attack outside London Club
Press releases / Statements
Orange Nation, the company that owns the Lightbox venue in Vauxhall, has issued a statement regarding Sunday’s incident.
Mark Williams from Orange Nation said:
“Unfortunately, there was a homophobic attack outside the cafe by Vauxhall Bus Station early on Sunday morning. This was an isolated incident and we have been speaking to police since it occurred, including supplying them with our CCTV footage of the local Vauxhall area. The police have confirmed there is no direct link with the venue or our customers. Our doors were closed at the time of the incident, with no gay events at the Lightbox that morning. Our extensive commitment with the council and Vauxhall One to provide a safe environment for everyone continues. Our thoughts go out to the victims of this awful attack and we wish them a speedy recovery.
If you have any information on the incident or the suspects in the CCTV images please contact: Lambeth Community Safety Unit on 0208 649 2176 or 07909 906 168”.
GOLD group meeting
On Tuesday 10th June 2014 a Gold Group meeting was held at Brixton Police Station bringing together representatives from the Police, the Council and key stakeholders from the local community. The purpose of this meeting was to update on how the investigation is going, and to ensure that everything is being done to address any concerns or issues arising. Good progress is being made – further updates will follow.
Other useful links
- Vauxhall One website
- Lambeth Hate Crime Coordinator twitter profile @Lambethhcc
- Lambeth LGBT facebook page
Pingback: Man charged after homophobic ‘ammonia’ attack in Vauxhall | #Lambethhcc