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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Liverpool Pride boss slams homophobic knife attack | Liverpool Pride boss slams homophobic knife attack |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| One of the organisers of Pride in Liverpool has condemned a homophobic knife attack on two men in the city, describing it as "terrifying". | |
| The victims were attacked by a boy with a knife in a "disturbing" hate crime in Anfield on Saturday, police said. | The victims were attacked by a boy with a knife in a "disturbing" hate crime in Anfield on Saturday, police said. |
| He is believed to be about 12 years old and was with two others aged 12 to 15. | He is believed to be about 12 years old and was with two others aged 12 to 15. |
| John Bird, co-founder of LCR (Liverpool City Region) Pride Foundation, said it was "scary" young people are "capable of such hatred". | |
| He told BBC 5 live that Liverpool was "culturally very rich" and described the attack as "terrifying... [when] someone as young as 12 is holding a knife and shouting homophobic slurs". | He told BBC 5 live that Liverpool was "culturally very rich" and described the attack as "terrifying... [when] someone as young as 12 is holding a knife and shouting homophobic slurs". |
| "The age of the people involved just hammers home education is vital," he said. | "The age of the people involved just hammers home education is vital," he said. |
| "All the leaps and bounds we have had in the UK - marriage and adoption rights... and 50 years on from the Stonewall Uprising... You would think we were past all this." | "All the leaps and bounds we have had in the UK - marriage and adoption rights... and 50 years on from the Stonewall Uprising... You would think we were past all this." |
| 'Shout down' | 'Shout down' |
| The men were assaulted as they walked down Manningham Road at about 21:20 BST. | The men were assaulted as they walked down Manningham Road at about 21:20 BST. |
| Det Insp Tracey Martin of Merseyside Police said three boys on bikes began by making "homophobic insults" before one, described as being approximately 12 years old, attacked the men with a knife. | Det Insp Tracey Martin of Merseyside Police said three boys on bikes began by making "homophobic insults" before one, described as being approximately 12 years old, attacked the men with a knife. |
| "A male of 12 shouting homophobic abuse is [really] disturbing but even more [so] the fact he is carrying a knife," she added. | "A male of 12 shouting homophobic abuse is [really] disturbing but even more [so] the fact he is carrying a knife," she added. |
| One of the victims suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries to his head and neck. Both are in hospital. | One of the victims suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries to his head and neck. Both are in hospital. |
| No arrests have yet been made and witnesses to the attack are urged to come forward. | No arrests have yet been made and witnesses to the attack are urged to come forward. |
| The Pride in Liverpool event will take place next month and Mr Bird said the foundation would be working with Merseyside Police on event safety. | The Pride in Liverpool event will take place next month and Mr Bird said the foundation would be working with Merseyside Police on event safety. |
| "Our theme this year is come as you are... and we will continue with that message and shout down this kind of behaviour," he added. | "Our theme this year is come as you are... and we will continue with that message and shout down this kind of behaviour," he added. |