A trans girl was abused, her friends kicked and pulled to the ground, by a gang of 15 teenagers
The suspected hate crime occurred in Williamson Park, Lancaster (Wikimedia Commons)
Police are investigating a suspected hate crime in which a trans girl and her friends were surrounded and attacked by a gang of 15 teens.
The group of four friends were approached by the teens just before 9.50pm on 24 October in Lancaster’s Williamson Park.
The thugs subjected them to verbal abuse and hurled transphobic insults at the teenage trans girl. The verbal abuse continued as the four friends ran towards Wyresdale Road, chased by the gang.
One of the victims, a man in his 20s, was viciously hit in the back of the head. Another victim, a teenage girl, was then pulled to the ground by her hair and kicked.
When one of the friends threatened to call the police, the offending group is said to have reacted angrily and tried to smack the girl’s phone out of her hand. She was then pulled to the floor in the middle of the road by the hair.
She managed to get up and make it to safety in the male victim’s car. The man drove himself to hospital where he received treatment for a significant head injury which required six stitches. The female victim was not seriously injured but was left visibly shaken.
A 17-year-old girl from Lancaster was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm and common assault. She has since been released under investigation. Lancashire Police said it is treating the incident as a hate crime.
DC Nikki Marshall, from Lancaster Police, told the Lancashire Echo: “This was a particularly nasty and shocking incident which has left one man with a serious head injury and two women badly shaken.
“I would like to make it clear that we do not tolerate any form of abuse and will work tirelessly to bring all the offenders involved to justice.
“Everyone has the right to live free from fear of abuse. Abusing someone simply because of who they are is unacceptable and we understand that this incident will have caused the public a great deal of concern. With this in mind, reassurance patrols have been increased in the area.”
She urged anyone with information or CCTV or dashcam footage to contact the police by emailing [email protected] or dialling 101, quoting log 1426 of October 24, 2020.
Alternatively witnesses can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
