Man injured and threatened in Soho homophobic attack

A man who was hit over the head during a homophobic attack in central London says he is "lucky" his injuries are not worse.

Linus Karp was struck over the head with the wooden handle of an umbrella in Soho on Tuesday evening, in what the Metropolitan Police has called a "homophobic assault".

He said his partner, Joseph Martin, partially blocked the attacker who then shouted: "You saved his life, I would have killed him otherwise."

A man has been arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm (ABH), and has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Mr Karp said he and his partner had been in Soho on Tuesday night to meet a friend for a drink and to collect props for their upcoming show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

While walking along the road, Mr Karp said they noticed a man "mumbling to himself" and crossing the road behind them when suddenly he "felt the blow from behind".

Mr Karp said his head was struck with such a force that "the wooden handle flew off the umbrella".

He said: "I'd never felt a hit like like it before."

His partner, Mr Martin, said he was able to see the attacker "in the corner of my eye", and was able to reach a hand up to protect Mr Karp.

The attacker then walked away while shouting back at the couple.

Mr Martin said he followed the man on foot and witnessed a second attack.

He said: "He barged into this other person, exchanged some words that I couldn't hear, and then spat in his face."

Mr Martin said at this point, he shouted for the attacker to stop and said that when he attempted to run away, "I gave chase and tackled him onto the ground and just kind of held held him until the police arrived".

Mr Karp said he was "so grateful" that his partner had acted "so quickly", and was "like a superhero".

Mr Karp said the attack had been "upsetting", adding: "It's a situation that makes you angry more than anything because someone will attack me, not because of anything I've done or said, but just because I exist, because I am presenting in a way possibly that is outside of the the norm.

"I'm just angry because obviously we've seen in the last few years hate crimes towards queer people have risen so much, I have so many friends who've experienced this," he said.

He told the BBC: "So many politicians are saying these hateful, often very queerphobic, especially transphobic, things and I don't think they realise the impact that actually has on real-life people."

Supt Beth Pirie, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “This was a homophobic assault and we know it will cause significant concern, particularly within the local LGBTQ+ community.

“There is no place for hate in London and we will not tolerate this type of behaviour.

"Our officers are continuing to carry out all lines of inquiry.

"Our thoughts remain with the victim, who has been spoken to by a specialist liaison officer and will be updated as the investigation progresses.”

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