Women beaten up after refusing to kiss for gang’s entertainment
Arrests made as police hunt ‘homophobic’ attackers after couple left covered in blood following bus assault
A FEMALE couple were beaten by a group of teenage males on a night bus in London after refusing to kiss for their “entertainment”.
Scotland Yard is investigating what it described as a “homophobic attack” against the two women in their 20s last Thursday. Yesterday it said arrests had been made in the case.
Melania Geymonat, 28, and her girlfriend Chris were returning home from a date, sitting on the top deck of the bus, when a group of men began shouting lewd and homophobic abuse.
When the couple refused to kiss, they were attacked and later robbed of a phone and a handbag.
The assault, which resulted in both women being treated in hospital, was condemned by Theresa May, the Prime Minister, Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, and Penny Mordaunt, the Defence Secretary.
Ms Geymonat, originally from Uruguay and an air hostess for Ryanair, is waiting to discover if her nose is broken. She posted an image of the pair, looking tearful and covered in blood.
“We must have kissed or something because these guys came after us,” said Ms Geymonat. “I don’t remember if they were already there or if they got on after us. There were at least four of them. They started behaving like hooligans, demanding that we kissed so they could enjoy watching, calling us ‘lesbians’ and describing sexual positions. It was only them and us there. In an attempt to calm things down, I started making jokes. I thought this might make them go away.”
She said her girlfriend pretended she was unwell to try to fend the group off.
Ms Geymonat added: “The next thing I know is that Chris is in the middle of the bus fighting with them. On an impulse, I went over there only to find her face bleeding and three of them beating her up.
“The next thing I know is I’m being punched. I got dizzy at the sight of my blood and fell back. I don’t remember whether or not I lost consciousness.”
Police have requested bus CCTV footage in a bid to identify the men.
Mrs May condemned the assault on the women, adding: “This was a sickening attack and my thoughts are with the couple affected.
“Nobody should ever have to hide who they are or who they love and we must work together to eradicate unacceptable violence towards the LGBT community.”
Mr Khan wrote on Twitter: “This was a disgusting, misogynistic attack. Hate crimes against LGBT people will not be tolerated in London.”
Ms Mordaunt added: “Appalled to see this kind of homophobic violence in the UK. There’s no place for this kind of vile behaviour in our society.”
Scotland Yard appealed for witnesses after the “homophobic” incident that took place on the N31 bus in Camden at approximately 2.30am on Thursday May 30. The force said four males aged 15-18 were arrested yesterday on suspicion of robbery and GBH.