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Do you recognise these men? They’re being hunted by British Transport Police after a sick homophobic attack on a London underground train.

Do you recognise these two men who carried out a sick homophobic attack?

The victim, a 19-year-old man, was travelling on a westbound Jubilee line train between West Ham and North Greenwich with his friends. They were wearing fancy dress for an event they were going to.

It happened on 21 October at around 11.10pm. The offenders boarded the train at West Ham and began verbally abusing the victim and his friends, using homophobic language.

When they were challenged, they became even more aggressive. The first offender then pulled the victim from his seat into a headlock, strangling him.

The second offender took the victim’s phone and verbally abused him again, also making threats to stab him.

They demanded the victim apologise for being gay which eventually the victim did because he couldn’t breathe and was afraid for his life.

The men then let him go and handed back his phone and a fight started between the victim’s friends and the offenders.

One of the victim’s friends, a 25-year-old woman, was punched and pushed to the ground. She suffered bruising but the original victim didn’t sustain any physical injuries. The victims got off the train at North Greenwich station.

British Transport Police released a statement saying: “Hate crime will not be tolerated by British Transport Police. We believe that everyone has the right to travel safety. We won’t tolerate behaviour where someone is targeted because they are perceived to be different, or made to feel uncomfortable on their journey.”

Officers need your help finding the people shown in the images as they may have information which could help the investigation.

If you recognise them, call BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting reference number 273 of 1/12.

 

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