Teen gang allegedly lured in gay men on Grindr before bashing them in a park – as court hears they were armed with machetes

Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of orchestrating “premeditated” attacks on gay men they lured through dating apps.

Western Australian police have launched an investigation into a group of homophobic criminals who targeted men of diverse gender identities in Perth, with two arrests made on Thursday.

It is alleged that the teenagers wanted to meet the men under the guise of a date, but instead beat and robbed them.

Police said the teenagers were armed with machetes, knives and pepper spray, the court was told.

A 15-year-old boy appeared in the Western Australian Children’s Court for his alleged role in the attacks and was charged with several offences, including aggravated armed robbery.

The boy is believed to be one of five people who created fake accounts on Grindr in an attempt to expose gay men, the court heard.

Two alleged victims, both in their 30s, were attacked in Stillwater Gardens Park after agreeing to meet with the catfish accounts.

In the group’s first alleged attack, the 15-year-old, his 16-year-old co-defendant and three others verbally abused a man before chasing him back to his car.

The two teenagers were part of a group of five who allegedly beat and robbed their victims

After fleeing the scene, the man locked himself in his car, which was surrounded by the teenagers who then tried to steal it, the court was told.

When the victim tried to flee, his trunk, side panel and windshield were damaged.

Later that night, the same group allegedly attacked a second man who had been lured to the same park under similar pretenses.

It is alleged the teenagers surrounded him again and verbally abused him before stealing his jacket, car keys and car.

Western Australian police have released dramatic footage of the teenagers’ arrest, showing officers handcuffing the boys before throwing them into the back of a police vehicle.

The prosecutor opposed granting bail to the 15-year-old they accused of taking part in “hate crimes”, the west reports.

She added that the premeditation in the crime and the weapons allegedly used against the victims were sufficient grounds to deny bail.

The court was also told that the incident was allegedly filmed by the suspects on their phones.

The Public Prosecution Service added that the weapons used during the incidents were found in the teenagers’ homes after their arrest.

One teenager has been charged with multiple crimes, including aggravated armed robbery, in connection with the attacks that occurred early Wednesday morning in South Lake

His co-defendant has not yet been charged, but he has already been denied bail because he was on bail for a separate incident at the time.

Judge Edward de Vries was told by police that three other teenagers had not yet been charged and remain suspects for their alleged role in the attacks.

In his plea for bail, the 15-year-old’s lawyer told the court that her client had no previous criminal offences, was a good student and would abide by the mandatory curfew.

The court did not grant bail to his co-defendant because he… already out on bail for a serious assault that took place in July.

Mr De Vries will decide on the conditions of the 15-year-old’s bail, or whether he will be granted bail at all, after he… receives a written bail report from the suspect.

The case was adjourned until September 26.

As part of their ongoing investigation, WA Police have appealed for any other victims of similar attacks to come forward by contacting Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.