Appeal for information following hate crime on Bold Street

We are appealing for information following a reported hate crime assault on Bold Street, Liverpool on Friday (11 June).

At around 4.50am we received a report that a three men were assaulted near to the Crafty Chandler pub on Bold Street.

During the assault, it was reported that one of the suspects produced a knife and subject the victims to homophobic abuse.

It was reported that the suspects then made off on foot in the direction of Hanover Street.

The suspects are described as three teenage males wearing balaclavas and black jackets. Two of the males were wearing black trousers and one was wearing grey trousers.

The victims sustained minor injuries.

CCTV and witness enquiries are ongoing to identify the suspects.

Detective Inspector Chris Hawitt said: “To be attacked in such a manner is despicable and we’re determined to find those responsible and remove them from our streets.

"Due to the abhorrent verbal abuse the victims were subjected to, we’re treating this as a hate crime. We at Merseyside Police stand against hate crime in all its forms and will not tolerate people being targeted in this manner because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“If you were in the Bold Street area in the early hours of Friday morning and saw, heard or captured anything please come forward and we will take action."

Anyone with information is asked to contact us via our social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ with reference 21000407423.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.