Canberra Police Investigate Alleged Homophobic Assaults Lured Through Dating App
“We encourage anyone targeted due to their sexual orientation to come forward.” – ACT Policing
According to ABC News, ACT Policing is looking into two alleged homophobic attacks on men in Canberra. The men were lured to locations using a dating app and fake profiles. They were then assaulted by groups.
On July 16, a man agreed to meet someone at a Denman Prospect home. He matched with them earlier that day on the app. Four people allegedly assaulted him outside the home on Ada Norris Avenue. He left on his motorbike. His helmet and gloves were allegedly stolen.
A similar attack happened on July 20. A man agreed to meet someone at an abandoned Red Hill house. He matched with them on a dating app. A group of seven or eight men allegedly assaulted him when he arrived. They shouted homophobic slurs, demanded money, and tried to steal his wallet and keys.
The man escaped but was chased and assaulted again. He fought them off on Discovery Street. The group also allegedly damaged his car. He went to the hospital and reported the attack to police.
Warnings about the attacks are spreading on social media. People are encouraged to report any attacks to the police.
They believe the attacks were planned. They are investigating if they are linked. They urge people meeting through dating apps to do so in public places.
The authorities want to speak to anyone with information or CCTV footage of the attacks. Contact Crime Stoppers and reference 7800123 for the Denman Prospect assault or 7803814 for the Red Hill assault.
