Lambeth: Men sprayed with noxious substance in homophobic attack

Police investigating a homophobic attack in which two men were sprayed with a noxious substance are appealing for two other victims to come forward.

Detectives believe a pepper spray was used in the attack at a bus stop in Brixton Road, Lambeth in the early hours of 19 January.

But moments earlier two other men were attacked with a noxious substance at a KFC in the same area.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "Detectives investigating a homophobic corrosive substance assault in Lambeth are appealing for two further victims to come forward.

"Police were called to McDonald's on Brixton Road, SW9 at 04:00hrs on Saturday, 19 January following reports of an unknown substance being sprayed in the face of two men.

"Officers attended and found two 22-year-old men who said they had been attacked at a bus stop.

"The men reported they had been sprayed in the face with a noxious substance, believed to be pepper spray, by a man in a hate crime attack.

"The men were treated at the scene by paramedics and did not require hospital treatment.

"Detectives investigating the assault have identified that two other men may have been the victims of a similar assault in a nearby KFC 20 minutes earlier on the same night."

Detective Constable Amy Cross, of Lambeth CID, said: "This was a completely unprovoked and targeted assault on at least two members of the public, with a possible further two victims not yet in contact with police.

"Both the attack and the homophobic motivation of this assault are abhorrent and I appeal to anyone with any information that could assist the investigation to come forward."

:: Anyone with information should contact Lambeth CID by dialling 101 and quoting reference CAD 1206/19JAN19, tweet @MetCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.