Men hurt in homophobic attack at Birmingham's Gay Village

Two men have been attacked with bottles and had homophobic abuse shouted at them in Birmingham, police have said.

Rob and Patrick, in their 30s, were outside the Missing Bar in the city's Gay Village on Sunday.

West Midlands Police said the abuse came from a group of four men in a black SUV, who then got out and assaulted the victims.

Patrick was knocked unconscious in the attack and his partner said it was "shocking that would happen in 2021".

Rob said he and Patrick, from Bicester, Oxfordshire, had been at a friend's housewarming party and decided towards the end of the night to go dancing in the Gay Village.

As they left Missing Bar he said he saw the men with balloons in the car and jokingly asked them if it was their birthday.

"They did not like that and went into all sort of foul language, including homophobic slurs directed at us," he said.

Rob suffered several lacerations and cuts

Detectives said an attacker snatched a phone from Patrick as he tried to film them and one of their female friends was dragged along by the SUV as she tried to get it back.

The woman, in her 20s, suffered a foot injury.

Rob said he then ran after the car to try and challenge the group but, when they stopped at a red light, they got out and attacked him with bottles.

Patrick said he ran to help his partner but "someone from the car got out and hit me from behind my head and I blacked out".

Having been treated in hospital for lacerations and cuts, Rob said he regretted chasing after the group.

But he added: "[The Gay Village] should be a safe area to be who you want and not have to tolerate people yelling homophobic remarks at you."

The attack happened outside the Missing Bar

Detectives said the men in the car were described as being of Middle Eastern or Asian appearance.

CCTV footage is being gathered by the force and Insp Steve Lloyd said officers were taking the hate crime seriously.

"This was an absolutely appalling attack and robbery on people just trying to enjoy a night out in the city centre," he said.