WA Police have charged four teenagers for allegedly using Grindr to commit “hate crimes” over a series of homophobic attacks in Perth.
CW: Distressing content
The boys, aged 15-17, are accused of using the dating app Grindr to lure men into an in-person meetup, before physically assaulting them.
WA Premier Roger Cook has condemned the “insidious crimes”.
Investigators said that while “everyone has a right to meet new people and start a relationship in safety,” police have urged dating app users to “take steps to ensure” their own protection.
What happened?
Grindr is the world’s most used LGBTQ+ free dating app. It’s used as a popular way of arranging hookups.
On Wednesday, a man in his thirties arranged to meet with a Grindr user in Perth’s south. He told police when he got there, he was harassed by a group of teenage boys.
The group began verbally abusing him, before he was able to retreat to his car. The teens allegedly surrounded the vehicle in an attempt to steal it. The man said they smashed his windscreen and threw rocks at the car as he drove away.
A short time later, police said another man in his thirties attended the same location.
The teenagers allegedly physically and verbally assaulted the second victim before stealing his jacket and car keys.
According to WA Police, “the victim sustained a large laceration to his elbow and bruising to his back and ribs.”
Police said they’re now investigating “several assaults that are believed to be targeted attacks by a group of males after their victims were lured to locations using a dating app.”
Arrests
Four suspects, aged between 15 and 17, have now been charged by police.
They are accused of using Grindr to target victims as part of coordinated homophobic attacks.
A 15 and 16-year-old boy were arrested on Wednesday afternoon.
Police then arrested another 16-year-old and a 17-year-old boy on Thursday.
Court
The group were charged with several offences including armed robbery and car theft. Some of the alleged assaults were also filmed and shared on social media.
All four teenagers have now appeared in Perth Children’s Court.
Prosecutors allege the boys committed “homophobic hate crimes”, and intend to prove they were motivated by a desire to attack the men based on their sexuality.
Police investigations are continuing.
Police warning
WA Police Detective Inspector Matt Froud said: “There is no place for this kind of targeted violence in our community.”
In light of the attacks, Froud urged LGBTQ+ users of dating apps and websites to “exercise caution” when planning to meet up with another user.
“If you arrange to meet with someone… meet in a public, well-lit place with plenty of people around,” he said. He also encouraged live location sharing with family and friends.
Premier
WA Premier Roger Cook said there was “no room” in the state for such alleged “insidious crimes”.
“We want Western Australia to be a peaceful, inclusive, and safe place for everyone to live and there is no room for that sort of activity,” Cook said.
“I hope the book is thrown at those people. These are sickening acts”.
