Three wanted after assault at transgender meeting in park
THREE people are wanted for questioning by police in connection with an assault at a “gender recognition talk” at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park.
Police say they are seeking the individuals after a woman was attacked while she was filming with her phone during a row between rival groups.
Scuffles are said to have broken out between a group known as trans-exclusionary radical feminists and a rival body of trans activists, at a talk about transgender legal issues on September 13. The victim, Maria MacLachlan, 60, a humanist funeral celebrant who describes herself as a “gender critical feminist”, says someone tried to grab her camera.
She said: “I ended up on the ground and it felt like a few of them were punching and kicking me.”
A video of the incident taken by another onlooker has been posted online.
Police said the victim was punched in the face by a male suspect, before being knocked to the ground where she was kickeds.
She suffered bruising but did not require medical treatment at the scene.
One suspect was described as a white man, about 6ft tall with brown shoulder-length hair worn in a pony tail.
Another was said to be white, about 5ft 8in tall of slim build, with short blonde hair and wearing a black, grey and white hooded camouflage jacket and multi-coloured leggings.
A third suspect was described by police as white, about 5ft 7in tall of slim build with brown chin-length hair with blonde ends and wearing a black, grey and white camouflage hat, a black pullover top and black jeans.
A 26-year-old man has attended a central London police station and has been interviewed under caution in connection with the investigation. He was not arrested.
Anyone with information should call Westminster police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.