Gay Couple Assaulted By Homophobic Group, One Beaten With Bottles While Other Left Unconscious

A gay couple who had just come from a birthday celebration was reportedly attacked by a group of men in a black SUV in Birmingham’s Gay Village.

Identified only as Rob and Patrick and both in their 30s, the two were coming from a friend’s birthday celebration when they came across a group of homophobic men riding a black SUV in the early hours of Aug. 14, Saturday, BBC reported.

When the verbal attacks were made, Rob said they initially tried to be nice to the group.

"We tried to be nice to them, I said: ‘Is it your birthday?' or something, and they started yelling at us and calling us homophobic names,” Rob stated.

The men initially started calling the couple names but appeared to be not satisfied and attacked them. The mobile phone of Patrick was allegedly grabbed as he tried to film the abuse being done on them at the time.

A friend who tried to retrieve the phone paid for it allegedly dragged along the run and was almost run over by the vehicle.

Rob did not escape unharmed. He was reportedly beaten with bottles while Patrick was knocked unconscious during the incident.

Rob suffered cuts to his head and hands and was left badly injured. Patrick suffered the same and was knocked unconscious. Both were taken to the hospital for proper medical attention.

"They’ve suffered homophobic abuse before being physically injured, and we are working incredibly hard to find those responsible,” Inspector Steve Lloyd of the Birmingham Police said. "We’ll be working closely with businesses in the area, and the Southside BID, to reassure them that we are taking this appalling hate crime very seriously."

According to the police, the attackers were described as being of Middle Eastern or Asian descent. CCTV footage is now being gathered by police to apprehend the suspects.

Both Rob and Patrick are now recuperating from their injuries and took some time off from work.