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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Boys held over homophobic attack | Boys held over homophobic attack |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Six boys, one aged 14, have been arrested after the homophobic attack of an off-duty trainee police officer outside a gay bar in Liverpool. | Six boys, one aged 14, have been arrested after the homophobic attack of an off-duty trainee police officer outside a gay bar in Liverpool. |
| James Parkes, 22, was set upon by up to 20 people on Stanley Street on Sunday night. | |
| Four boys, one 17, two 15 and one 14, who were held on suspicion of assault have been bailed. Two other 15-year-olds are being questioned by police. | Four boys, one 17, two 15 and one 14, who were held on suspicion of assault have been bailed. Two other 15-year-olds are being questioned by police. |
| Mr Parkes is in hospital with multiple skull fractures and other injuries. | Mr Parkes is in hospital with multiple skull fractures and other injuries. |
| He is in a "very critical" condition in hospital after the attack, which happened as he was leaving Superstar Boudoir, one the city's well-known gay bars. | He is in a "very critical" condition in hospital after the attack, which happened as he was leaving Superstar Boudoir, one the city's well-known gay bars. |
| Detectives are reviewing CCTV footage of the area, which has been sealed-off. | Detectives are reviewing CCTV footage of the area, which has been sealed-off. |
| 'Hate crime' | 'Hate crime' |
| The two 15-year-olds currently being held, who are from the Kirkdale area of Merseyside, were detained on Monday night. | The two 15-year-olds currently being held, who are from the Kirkdale area of Merseyside, were detained on Monday night. |
| Det Ch Insp Tim Keelan, who has appealed for witnesses, said: "We are treating the assault as a homophobic hate crime and this incident shows there are still some people who have not learnt that crimes of this type are completely unacceptable. | Det Ch Insp Tim Keelan, who has appealed for witnesses, said: "We are treating the assault as a homophobic hate crime and this incident shows there are still some people who have not learnt that crimes of this type are completely unacceptable. |
| "People who commit hate crimes can expect the full attention of the police and we will not rest until the offenders are brought to justice." | "People who commit hate crimes can expect the full attention of the police and we will not rest until the offenders are brought to justice." |
| Mr Parkes, who is openly gay, was with his partner and another man and a woman when he was attacked. One of his companions was punched in the face. | Mr Parkes, who is openly gay, was with his partner and another man and a woman when he was attacked. One of his companions was punched in the face. |
| The trainee was a police community support officer until earlier this year and was in the middle of training to become a full police officer by early 2010. | The trainee was a police community support officer until earlier this year and was in the middle of training to become a full police officer by early 2010. |
| High-visibility police patrols have been stepped up in the area where he was attacked. | High-visibility police patrols have been stepped up in the area where he was attacked. |