Two men are taken to hospital after being stabbed outside a nightclub in south London.
Image source, PA MediaTwo men were taken to hospital after being stabbed in a homophobic attack outside a south London nightclub.
The men, in their 20s and 30s, were attacked outside the Two Brewers in Clapham High Street on Sunday night.
The Met Police says it is treating the stabbings as homophobic. The men have since been sent home from hospital.
Det Insp Gary Castle says he is “aware of the shock this attack will cause members of the LGBT+ community”, adding “an urgent investigation is ongoing”.
No arrests have been made.
A drag performer at the club praised staff at the venue for their response.
Image source, PA Media
Mary Mac posted: “The team at The Two Brewers were incredible in dealing with this and keeping us inside the venue safe.
“It’s shocking and disgusting that in 2023 this is becoming frighteningly more frequent.”
A Two Brewers spokesperson said the venue was “fully supporting” the police with their investigation “regarding this unprovoked attack”, adding, “our thoughts are with the victims and their families”.
“We would like to reassure the LGBTQIA+ community that the safety and security of our guests remains our number one priority,” they said.
“Our CCTV has been handed over to the police and enhanced security measures have now been put in place.”
‘Unacceptable to live in fear’
Campaign group Stonewall called on the government to set out a plan to deal with hate crime in the wake of the stabbings.
The organisation said there had been no government hate crime strategy in place for the past three years.
In a series of entries on Twitter, now known as X, the LGBT+ charity said: “We are appalled to hear that two men have been stabbed in an apparent homophobic attack outside a LGBTQ+ venue in Clapham.
“It is unacceptable for LGBTQ+ people to live in fear. We call on the UK Govt to set out its plan to deal with rising hate crime.”
The most recent hate crime figures released by the Home Office show that sexual orientation hate crimes increased by 41% to 26,152 in the year ending March 2022, representing the largest percentage annual increase in these offences since current records began in the year ending March 2012.
Transgender identity hate crimes also rose significantly, by 56% to 4,355, the data shows.
The Home Office said the overall rise could be due to better recording by police, as well as fewer cases having been recorded under Covid restrictions in 2020/21.
However, significant increases of more than 40 and 50% would indicate an upward trend.
Florence Eshalomi, Labour MP for Vauxhall, said: “Having spoken to people in the area this afternoon, I know how alarming this shocking attack has been to the LGBTQ+ community in Clapham.
“My thoughts are with the victims, who I hope will be supported to make a full recovery.”
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