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Two teenagers have been arrested for their alleged role in orchestrating “premeditated” attacks on gay men they lured through dating apps.
Western Australian police have launched an investigation into a group of homophobic thugs who attacked gender-diverse men in Perth and made two arrests on Thursday.
The teens are believed to have asked to meet the men under the pretext of a date, but instead attacked and robbed them.
Police allege the teenagers were armed with machetes, knives and pepper spray, a court was told.
A 15-year-old boy has appeared in the Western Australian Children’s Court for his alleged role in the attacks and has been charged with several offences, including aggravated armed robbery.
The court heard the boy was allegedly part of a group of five people who had created fake accounts on Grindr in an attempt to out gay men.
Two alleged victims, both in their 30s, were assaulted in Stillwater Gardens park after agreeing to meet with the fictitious sources.
In the group’s first alleged attack, the 15-year-old, his 16-year-old co-defendant and three others verbally abused a man before chasing him to his car.
WA Police made two arrests on Thursday in connection with an alleged gang of homophobic thugs who used fake Grindr accounts to lure gay men into the public eye.
The two teenagers were part of a group of five people who allegedly beat and robbed their victims.
After fleeing the scene, the man locked himself in his car, which was surrounded by the teenagers, who then tried to steal it, the court heard.
When the victim attempted to flee the scene, his rear trunk, side panel and windshield were damaged.
Later that night, the same group allegedly attacked a second man who was lured to the same park under similar pretenses.
The teens are believed to have again surrounded him, verbally abusing him before stealing his jacket, car keys and car.
Western Australian police have released dramatic footage of the teenagers’ arrest, showing officers handcuffing the boys before throwing them into the back of a police vehicle.
The prosecutor refused to grant bail to the 15-year-old who was accused of participating in “hate crimes.” The West reports.
He added that the The premeditated nature of the crime and the weapons allegedly used against the victims were sufficient to justify the denial of bail.
The court was also informed that the incident was allegedly filmed by the accused on their phones.
The prosecution added that the weapons used during the incidents were recovered from the teenagers’ homes after their arrest.
A teenager has been charged with multiple offenses, including aggravated armed robbery, in connection with the attacks that took place in South Lake early Wednesday morning.
His co-accused has not yet been charged, but has already been denied bail because he was out on bail for a separate incident at the time.
Police told Magistrate Edward de Vries that three other teenagers had not yet been charged and remained suspects for their alleged role in the attacks.
In applying for bail, the 15-year-old’s lawyer told the court his client had no criminal record, was a good student and would abide by the mandatory curfew.
The court denied bail to his co-accused because… He was already out on bail for a serious assault that occurred in July.
Mr de Vries will decide on the bail conditions of the 15-year-old, or whether he will be granted bail, after… receives a written bail report from the suspect.
The case was adjourned until September 26.
To continue the investigation, WA Police have urged other victims of similar attacks to come forward by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
