Police hunt men over homophobic Valentine’s Day attack on gay couple
Police are seeking a group of men in connection with a brutal homophobic attack on a London train.
Gay couple Phil Poole and Zbynek Zatloukal, 35 and 26, had been getting a London-bound train back from a Valentine’s Day date in Reading when the incident occurred.
Mr Poole had been napping with his head resting on his boyfriend’s shoulder – but was awoken just after 1 AM as a bunch of thugs attacked them.
The pair were both repeatedly punched and kicked, and were left with horrific injuries requiring hospital treatment.
Victims Phil Poole and Zbynek Zatloukal
The assailants fled the train at Ealing Broadway.
Today police released images of men they are seeking in connection with the attack.
PC Peter Taylor of British Transport Police said: “This was a very nasty assault committed by a group of men who attacked two other men while they were sleeping on the train.
“The victims believe the motivation for the attack was that the offenders thought they were gay.
“Hate crime such as this will absolutely not be tolerated by British Transport Police.
“I would like to speak to anyone who recognises the men shown in the CCTV images as they may have information which could help with the investigation.
“If you recognise them or have any other information about the incident, please contact me by calling 0800 40 50 40 or text information to 61016 quoting reference number 30 15/2/17.”
