Perth police have charged a sixth individual in connection with a series of alleged homophobic attacks that targeted LGBTQ-identifying men. The group of six juvenile males reportedly used a dating app to lure four victims to various locations in the city’s southern suburbs between September 17 and 18 last year. Upon arrival, the victims were allegedly confronted, assaulted, and subjected to homophobic slurs, with some assaults filmed and shared on social media.
In certain incidents, the attackers also damaged the victims’ cars as they attempted to escape. Following a public appeal, an 18-year-old man from Yangebup was arrested over the weekend and now faces multiple charges, including aggravated armed robbery, unlawful wounding, and deprivation of liberty. He is set to appear in Perth Children’s Court on March 20.
This latest arrest brings the total to six individuals charged in relation to these attacks, encompassing a 15-year-old from Hilton, two 16-year-olds from South Lake and Hamilton Hill, a 17-year-old from Hamilton Hill, and a 33-year-old from Spearwood. Collectively, they face a staggering 52 charges.