Homophobic Attacks On 3 Vauxhall Clubbers

3 Vauxhall clubbers have suffered related homophobic attacks over the weekend, reports the Evening Standard. In dark news for clubland, the victims were sprayed with bleach fired from a water dispenser. One man had the ammonia fired directly into his eyes, with doctors fearing his sight may be permanantly damaged. 

The attacks started when two of the victims started a conversation with two women and a man outside of the club Lightbox. When the women learnt that the guys they were talking to were gay (apparently oblivious they were in the heart of London's gay club scene) they started screaming abuse. Their companion, the bearded man in the photo below then approached the men and sprayed them. 

The victim said: “As we walked away I heard a man shout ‘Oi! Come here.’ At first I thought it was the doorman saying he’d changed his mind and we could go in.

“Then I saw this white guy with a beard, and his hand coming up with a water bottle that he squirted really hard into my face. It went right in my eyes and it sprayed into my friend’s mouth.

“My face was burning so much, I thought it was acid. I thought I would never see again and my face was melting.

“He poured every last drop onto us and then turned around and walked away, like it was mission accomplished.

“The chemical burnt the cornea in my left eye and the vision hasn’t cleared since. The doctors said it should hopefully return but there is no guarantee.

“My friend’s tongue was swollen and it looked like someone had scratched part of it away. It was horrible. ”

A few minutes later another man was also doused in bleach. The police are treating this attack as related.

Vauxhall has been the epicentre of gay clubbing for nearly two decades, with only recent years seeing straight promoters operating in the area. This attack suggests that there are still deep seated hatreds that need to be dealt with before the gay scene can reasonably feel safe opening up a space they have long made their own. The police are encouraging anyone with information on the assailant or the women with him to get in contact on 0208 649 2176 or 07909 906 168.