Same-Sex Couple Beaten with Bottles in Gay Village Homophobic Assault

A queer couple was attacked in Birmingham, U.K. early Sunday morning while out with several friends. A group of men threw bottles and physically assaulted the pair. It's the latest in a string of anti-LGBTQ+ violence across the U.K. in recent months.

The couple, Rob and Patrick, were outside a bar in the city's gay neighborhood, the Gay Village, on Saturday night when authorities say a black SUV pulled up and men got out and started attacking them, according to the BBC. The attack left the two men, both in their 30s, bloodied and cut. Patrick was knocked unconscious. The victims surnames were not reported.

From the town of Bicester in Oxfordshire, the two had been in the city for a friend's party before they decided to end the night by going dancing. As they left the bar, Rob told the BBC he and Patrick saw an SUV full of balloons drive past. He asked if they were for a birthday.

"They did not like that and went into all sort of foul language, including homophobic slurs directed at us," Rob told the news service.

Authorities said the assailants grabbed a phone Patrick had been using to film the attack. A friend with them attempted to get the phone back but was dragged by the SUV as the assailants fleed, injuring her foot.

Rob said he chased down the SUV as it was leaving only for it to stop and the attackers to get out and start hitting him with glass bottles.

Then, Patrick said he attempted to stop the attack, however, "someone from the car got out and hit me from behind my head and I blacked out."

While Rob told the BBC he regretted chasing the group, he added that the Gay Village, "should be a safe area to be who you want and not have to tolerate people yelling homophobic remarks at you."

Local investigator Steve Lloyd said the police were looking into the hate crime seriously, according to a police press release on the attack.

"This was an absolutely appalling attack and robbery on people just trying to enjoy a night out in the city center," Lloyd said. "They've suffered homophobic abuse before being physically injured, and we are working incredibly hard to find those responsible."