Officers investigating a series of incidents that took place over the course of the weekend of 12/13 January in east London, whereby a small group of individuals were seen to approach and harass members of the public at various locations, are making a specific appeal for a victim seen in a YouTube video to contact them.
The incident was captured on a video uploaded titled ‘Muslim vigilantes in London harass and taunt gay male’.
It is not clear to officers at this time where this incident took place or when, but the video shows a small group verbally harass and intimidate a man using homophobic language.
The Community Safety Unit on Tower Hamlets borough is investigating this series of incidents, of which this is one.
Officers are eager to speak to a man in the video and have issued a screen grab from the uploaded video and are appealing for him to contact police.
Detective Chief Inspector Wendy Morgan from Tower Hamlets borough said:
“The Met takes such homophobic behaviour very seriously. This man is a crucial witness in the investigation and would encourage him and anyone else with information relating to this incident to make contact in confidence as soon as possible.”
Additional police patrols are being mounted across east London to reassure our communities.
So far two people have been arrested in connection with this investigation, including this homophobic incident.
A 22-year-old man [A] was arrested in the Acton area on Sunday, 20 January and a 19-year-old man [B] who voluntarily attended an east London police station on Monday, 21 January.
Both have been bailed to return to an east London police station on a dates in February and March pending further enquiries.
