Two Teens Arrested For Allegedly Forcing Victim To "Apologize" For Being Gay

Image via Flickr - Annie Mole

Two sixteen-year-old boys have been arrested in connection with the assault of a 19-year-old man who was attacked and forced to "apologize' for being gay.

Via NewsTalk:

The victim, a 19-year-old man, was travelling on a westbound London Underground Jubilee line train between West Ham and North Greenwich with his friends.

They were dressed in fancy dress for an event they were going to on October 21st at around 11.10pm.

Two other men boarded the train at West Ham and began verbally abusing the victim and his friends, using homophobic language.

When challenged, police say they became more aggressive.

The first offender then pulled the victim from his seat into a headlock, strangling him.

The second man took the victim’s phone and verbally abused him again, and threatened to stab him.

They demanded the victim apologise for being gay which he eventually did as he was struggling to breathe.

They then let him go and handed back his phone - a fight then broke out 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 sustained bruising.

Police say the original victim did not sustain any injuries.

Officers had launched an appeal to find the people shown in images as they may have information which could help the investigation.

In a statement, British Transport Police say: "Hate crime will not be tolerated... We believe that everyone has the right to travel safety.