DAR AL HARB - NETHERLANDS: A RISE IN ATTACKS ON HOMOSEXUALS - - - ONE GUESS AS TO WHICH RELIGIOUS PERSUASION IS DOING THE ATTACKING

Two homosexuals assaulted in Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM – A group of six men assaulted two gay men on the Reguliersdwarsstraat in Amsterdam city centre last Thursday night. The victims are aged 37 and 45 and were most likely attacked because of their sexual orientation, Amsterdam police said on Monday. The six men were arrested after the attack for public violence.

The 37-year-old and a friend had visited a nightclub in the centre of Amsterdam. They were attacked by a group of men as they were crossing the Rembrandtplein via the Regulierdwarsstraat towards the Vijzelstraat.

The men shouted insulting statements about homosexuals, threatened the two and spit in the face of one of them. As the victims approached the Vijzelstraat both were punched in the face. A witness says the group also threatened the two gay men, chanting "I'm going to kill you, I'm going to kill you."

The group then headed towards the Herengracht. Witnesses had called police and the six were arrested. The suspects are all between the ages of 15 and 19. Four are of Moroccan descent, one is Surinamese and one is Turkish.

The police are looking for witnesses of the abuse. The group of young men is also suspected of involvement in other similar incidents. The police are asking that any victims come forward so that this kind of violence can be addressed.


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New reports of gay bashing

AMSTERDAM – The Amsterdam police have received four new reports of violence against homosexuals after calling on victims and witnesses to come forward.

The police had called for anyone with information to come forward after six men were arrested last week for beating up two gay men on the Reguliersdwarsstraat in Amsterdam, an area where many gay bars are located.

The group that was arrested was most likely responsible for at least one of the four new reports.
The Amsterdam police have already received 10 reports of violence against homosexuals this year, compared to 15 for the whole of 2006.



Pertinent Links:

1) Two homosexuals assaulted in Amsterdam

2) New reports of gay bashing