Leicester Square Assault Suspects

Four suspects, three of whom are males who identify as trans women, were arrested in connection with an attack on a 19 year old man at Leicester Square tube station in London in the early hours of June 24, 2018.

In video footage of the assault, the suspects can be seen repeatedly stamping on the teenager’s head as he lies faces down on the floor. The victim was taken to hospital and treated for a broken eye socket and cuts to his face. All four suspects were released pending further investigation.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: “The women – a 26-year-old from Romford, a 22-year-old from Dagenham and two other 22-year-olds of no fixed address – were arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm, violent disorder and affray.”

“During their arrest, two police officers were also assaulted and one of the 22-year-olds was further arrested on suspicion of assaulting them.”

All headlines and coverage referred to the suspects as women, likely following the police statement, despite the people in the video clearly resembling men and such assaults being typical of male pattern violent offending, not female. Hundreds of social media commenters posted responses asking the media outlets to accurately report the sex of the suspects.

Video source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1714560/Video-Gang-women-knock-man-ferocious-attack-Leicester-Square.html

Image via Daily Mail 

Media reports

The Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6618531/eicester-square-underground-station-man-attacked-women-gang-video/ archive

Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5884039/Gang-four-women-repeatedly-kicks-punches-man.html

LBC https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/crime-caught-camera/tube-horror-women-man-attack-leicester-square/

Metro https://metro.co.uk/2018/06/26/man-beaten-gang-women-dresses-heels-night-7660555/