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| Liverpool LGBTQ artwork vandalism treated as hate crime | Liverpool LGBTQ artwork vandalism treated as hate crime |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The LGBTQ artwork was defaced days after it was installed in Liverpool city centre | |
| Two LGBTQ artworks created in response to hate crimes have been vandalised within days of them being installed. | Two LGBTQ artworks created in response to hate crimes have been vandalised within days of them being installed. |
| The pieces, created in reaction to a recent spate of homophobic attacks in Liverpool city centre, were found destroyed on Friday and Tuesday. | The pieces, created in reaction to a recent spate of homophobic attacks in Liverpool city centre, were found destroyed on Friday and Tuesday. |
| The exhibition's organiser Homotopia said it was "devastated" by the acts. | The exhibition's organiser Homotopia said it was "devastated" by the acts. |
| Merseyside Police said the force had been alerted to the first incident of criminal damage, which it was treating as a hate crime. | Merseyside Police said the force had been alerted to the first incident of criminal damage, which it was treating as a hate crime. |
| Artist Rosa Kusabbi's work Hate Has No Place in Liverpool was ripped down from the wall of Liverpool One on Friday night, said Homotopia. | Artist Rosa Kusabbi's work Hate Has No Place in Liverpool was ripped down from the wall of Liverpool One on Friday night, said Homotopia. |
| Ben Youdan's piece titled Queer With No Fear was torn down from a window in Wood Street and destroyed on Tuesday night. | Ben Youdan's piece titled Queer With No Fear was torn down from a window in Wood Street and destroyed on Tuesday night. |
| The pieces were commissioned as part of an outdoor exhibition called Queer in the City, a campaign to make Liverpool a safe space for the LGBTQ community. | The pieces were commissioned as part of an outdoor exhibition called Queer in the City, a campaign to make Liverpool a safe space for the LGBTQ community. |
| The artwork Queer With No Fear was tore down and found destroyed on Tuesday | |
| In June, hundreds of people gathered in the city to protest over hate crimes involving "homophobic slurs" in Fleet Street, Bold Street and Upper Newington Street. | In June, hundreds of people gathered in the city to protest over hate crimes involving "homophobic slurs" in Fleet Street, Bold Street and Upper Newington Street. |
| Some victims reported being held up at knifepoint while others said they were beaten up. | Some victims reported being held up at knifepoint while others said they were beaten up. |
| Homotopia said it "was not the sole responsibility of LGBTQIA people to keep each other safe, it is everyone's responsibility". | Homotopia said it "was not the sole responsibility of LGBTQIA people to keep each other safe, it is everyone's responsibility". |
| Councillor Harry Doyle said he was "saddened and angry" at the vandalism, adding "this is not the Liverpool I know and love". | Councillor Harry Doyle said he was "saddened and angry" at the vandalism, adding "this is not the Liverpool I know and love". |
| "Hate and discrimination has no place here, and as the city council we will continue to proudly support campaigns which send out the message that homophobia, transphobia and biphobia will not be tolerated," Mr Doyle added. | "Hate and discrimination has no place here, and as the city council we will continue to proudly support campaigns which send out the message that homophobia, transphobia and biphobia will not be tolerated," Mr Doyle added. |
| Homotopia said it was working to restore the pieces as soon as possible. | Homotopia said it was working to restore the pieces as soon as possible. |
| Sgt Jacqui Keeler, from Merseyside Police, said: "We are checking CCTV and are now inspecting the other artwork around the city which has been installed as part of [the exhibition]. | Sgt Jacqui Keeler, from Merseyside Police, said: "We are checking CCTV and are now inspecting the other artwork around the city which has been installed as part of [the exhibition]. |
| "We are also engaging with the LGBTQ+ community to reassure them that we are taking this incident seriously and we will take action against those responsible." | "We are also engaging with the LGBTQ+ community to reassure them that we are taking this incident seriously and we will take action against those responsible." |
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