Gays attacked during Gay Pride

6 August 2007

AMSTERDAM (ANP) – A number of homosexuals were assaulted in two separate incidents during the Gay Pride weekend in Amsterdam. On Saturday night a 34-year-old Irish man was attacked in the vicinity of the Kinkerstraat, police announced on Monday.

The Irishman was walking with his Spanish boyfriend when he got in an argument with two aggressive men. After a hand gesture by the Irishman the two struck him with a hard object, after which the man was taken to hospital with serious injuries. He underwent surgery to his jaw and other treatment. The police strongly suspect that the man was attacked because of his sexual orientation.

Two American men were attacked on the Nassaukade on Friday night. One was beaten and sprayed in the face with pepper spray or tear gas. The police suspect that the violence in this case was also motivated by hate towards gays, but are not ruling out the incident may have been a mugging.

During a third incident on Friday night troublemakers destroyed a wreath from the gay rights monument at the Westerkerk and threw it in the canal. The police later arrested two young men on suspicion of vandalism.

Police are still searching for the perpetrators of the two violent incidents. The force formed an “emergency team” to investigate the incidents on Sunday. Police say the attacks were unrelated despite the fact that they took place in close proximity to each other.

Subject: Dutch news