ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has condemned the group of “cowardly” attackers who have targeted gay Canberrans on Grindr, urging people to stay safe online.
ACT Policing are investigating the three reports in recent weeks of groups of men using fake Grindr profiles to lure gay men to empty residences and assaulting them.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr acknowledged the community “feels under threat” and said police are devoting “significant resources” to finding the attackers.
“A change in police response that I’ve seen in my lifetime is that incidents like this were frequent occurrences in Australia, particularly in the 1980s and 90s, and were largely ignored by police,” Barr told the Canberra Times this weekend.
“What we are seeing now in 2024 is ACT police getting on the front foot on this matter.
“[ACT Policing is] devoting significant resources to finding these individuals who, from all public reports, are a bunch of very insecure and cowardly men who are luring unsuspecting victims to be physically assaulted on the basis of their sexuality.
“It is unacceptable behaviour.”
Grindr working with ACT Policing to catch attackers
Grindr has said it’s working with ACT Policing to catch the offenders behind the crimes that have rattled the ACT.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr urged Grindr to share data with police and also urged Canberran users – and anyone meeting people online – to take safety precautions.
He echoed advice from police and Canberran LGBTQIA+ advocates urging people meeting for the first time through apps to exercise caution and do so in a public place like a café, restaurant or shopping centre.
Canberran LGBTQIA+ organisation Meridian also condemned the violent incidents as “disgusting and abhorrent”.
They said support services are available and urged victims of violence to report the crimes.
ACT Police have also urged anyone else with information or who witnessed the incidents to come forward.
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