Hate Crime Charges In London Bus Attack On Lesbians

The Independent reports:

Four teenage boys have been charged with an aggravated hate crime over a homophobic attack against two women on a London night bus, the Metropolitan Police has said. Melania Geymonat, 28, and her girlfriend Chris were hospitalised with facial injuries and left covered with blood after the assault on 30 May.

The couple had been travelling home from West Hampstead to Camden Town after a date. Four boys, two aged 16, one aged 15 and another aged 17, have been charged with an aggravated hate crime under the Public Order Act, Scotland Yard said on Thursday.

All four are due to appear at Highbury Corner Youth Court on 21 August. The group allegedly began harassing the two women when they discovered they were a couple, asking them to kiss and making sexual gestures.