NSW Police have charged two teenagers with assault after what police allege were gay “hate-related crimes” in Sydney’s CBD earlier this month.
About 8.50pm on Sunday, February 6, a 19-year-old man and two women – aged 20 and 21 – were walking along Castlereagh Street in the central Sydney suburb of Haymarket.
A black Volkswagen Golf pulled over near the pedestrians, a police spokesperson said.
Police allege one of the four occupants from the vehicle threatened the man.
One of the male passengers then got out of the car and allegedly assaulted the victim. The man allegedly punched him in the head and knocked him to the ground.
The younger woman attempted to intervene, but allegedly had an egg thrown at her, hitting her in the chest.
The injured man was again assaulted by being kicked while on the ground, police allege.
The vehicle then drove away, and the victims reported the attack to police officers.
NSW Police said the alleged assaults are “being treated as hate crimes” and are linked to one other incident earlier on the same day.
At about 8.30am on February 6, a 24-year-old man was waiting at a bus stop at the corner of Bourke and McEvoy Streets in the inner-city suburb of Waterloo.
The man has told police a vehicle – with four passengers – stopped nearby and threatened him before eggs were thrown at him, hitting in the eye and chest.
As the vehicle began to move away, a 26-year-old man – who witnessed the incident – attempted to intervene. He was also threatened before the vehicle drove away.
The younger man suffered bruising and swelling to his face. Police have alleged the attacker believed the 24-year-old man was gay.
Police arrest two teenagers over alleged gay hate crimes
Last Thursday (February 10), NSW Police officers executed search warrants at two homes in Bankstown and Greenacre, a spokesperson said.
Officers arrested a 17-year-old boy and took him to Bankstown Police Station. A 16-year-old boy also presented at Bankstown Police Station, where police arrested him.
Police charged the 17-year-old with affray, assault causing actual bodily harm and two counts of common assault.
Officers also charged the teenager for not disclosing the identity of his passenger.
Police also charged the 16-year-old with two counts of affray, assault causing actual bodily harm in company and common assault.
Both teenagers received strict conditional bail and will appear in court on March 3.
A NSW Police spokesperson said police inquiries are continuing.
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