Police in the ACT are investigating a third targeted homophobic assault on a gay man allegedly lured to a Canberra home via Grindr.
Earlier in the week, police said two men were lured to empty properties in Canberra via the app under similar circumstances.
The first went to a residence on Ada Norris Avenue in Denman Prospect on July 16. He was assaulted by a group of men who set up a fake Grindr profile.
In very similar circumstances, seven or eight men attacked another Grindr user around 2:30am on July 20 in Red Hill.
The group hurled homophobic slurs at the gay man and damaged his car. The man was injured in the attack and later went to hospital.
Now, ACT Policing say a third man has told police a group of men attacked him at the same location just hours later.
The man arrived at the Red Hill address at about 4am on July 20. There, as many as eight attackers wearing face coverings assaulted him.
He suffered minor injuries in the attack, police said.
‘Particularly abhorrent’ crimes
ACT Policing Acting Commander Richard Breiner said officers believe the assaults, which have outraged Canberra’s LGBTQIA+ community, are linked.
Mr Breiner said police are also “fairly certain” they’re investigating homophobic, pre-meditated attacks.
“Both of those properties were vacant. That’s obviously one of the reasons that the offenders chose them,” he said.
“These weren’t just spur-of-the-moment things. They’ve cased the place to say that there’s no one or nothing in there to prevent the attacks from happening.
He said the offenders had used homophobic slurs during the attacks.
“Obviously, any offense targeted at a gender or sexuality is something we find particularly abhorrent,” Mr Breiner said.
ACT Policing want to hear from anyone who lives in Denman Prospect or Red Hill with information. Police urged potential witnesses, or those who may have CCTV footage, to come forward.
Stay safe when meeting people online
For safety, police also urged people meeting others for the first time via dating apps to meet in public places, such as cafés, restaurants, or shopping centres, before private residences.
“If you’re meeting someone over a dating app, make sure that where you’re meeting is somewhere with other people, where it’s well lit, somewhere you can actually have a conversation,” Mr Briener said.
Canberran LGBTQIA+ organisation Meridian condemned the violent incidents as “disgusting and abhorrent”.
They’ve urged community members to keep themselves and their mates safe online.
Meridian said support services are available, and urged anyone who’s experienced violence to come forward.
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If you need someone to talk to, help is available from QLife on 1800 184 527 or online at QLife.org.au, Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
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