British Transport Police for looking for two individuals connected to a ‘homophobic hate crime’ on the London Underground. (BTP)
Authorities are on the hunt for two men in connection to a “homophobic” hate crime that occurred on the tube.
On a Jubilee Line London Underground tube train on 23 October, 2020, two passengers were travelling between Waterloo and London Bridge stations when they became victims of a hate crime.
Two men sat close to the victims on the tube when they began “subjecting them to homophobic abuse” at around 10:30pm, British Transport Police (BTP) said.
On Monday (8 March) the force released CCTV images of two individuals they think could further their investigation.
Anyone who knows them is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2000078078.
Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be reached on 0800 555 111.
Homophobic and transphobic hate crimes have more than doubled in England and Wales
The incident comes amid a dizzying surge in anti-LGBT+ hate crimes that have. left activists alarmed and prosecutors scrambling.
Indeed, homophobic and transphobic hate crimes more than doubled in England and Wales between 2015 and 2018, and this spree of violence has shown little signs of petering out in the years since.
Across four years, the rate of LGBT+ hate crime, including offences such as harassment, assault and stalking, increased by 144 per cent.
There were 4,600 LGBT+ hate crimes reported in 2014. But in 2018, that number rose to 11,600.
Police are investigating seven transphobic offences per day, according to the Home Office, the government department responsible for security and migration.
Overall, the department’s data showed, hate crime levels have soared to record-breaking heights – topping 100,000 in 2019.
Anti-violence experts warn that the figures – already startling in their size – are likely even higher.
In one particularly shocking incident that occurred on the London Underground, a man was pummelled and left with a fractured face in what police said was a “transphobic and homophobic” attack.