Terrifying ‘homophobic’ dating app attacks on three men lured to homes in Canberra are believed to be linked
Australian Capital Territory police are investigating multiple incidents in which three men were allegedly attacked by a group of people after being lured to a location using a dating app.
A man who had made contact with someone through a dating app went to a home on Ada Norris Avenue in Denman Prospect on Tuesday morning, July 16.
Outside the house he was approached by four men who allegedly attacked him. However, he was able to flee on his motorbike shortly afterwards.
Police suspect that his helmet and gloves were stolen by the alleged perpetrators.
The man did not need to be taken to hospital and gave a statement to the police.
A second incident occurred at around 2:30am on Saturday, July 20, when a man arranged to meet another man at a house on Investigator Street in Red Hill via the same dating app.
According to police, shortly after the man arrived at the house, a group of about eight men appeared and began attacking him.
During the attack, the group allegedly shouted homophobic insults at the victim, demanded money from him and attempted to take his wallet and keys.
Two of the incidents occurred outside the same home on Investigator Street in Red Hill on Saturday, July 20. Source: Google Maps
The man managed to escape, but was reportedly pursued on foot by the group. The group continued the attack in front of another house on Investigator Street, before the man was able to hold off the group on Discovery Street.
After the incident, the group also reportedly damaged the man’s car.
The victim went to the hospital around 1:00 p.m. that day to be treated for injuries sustained in the attack and then reported the incident to police.
Police are investigating three incidents in the ACT where men were allegedly lured to a location via a dating app and then attacked by a group of people. Photo: Blake Foden
A third victim was allegedly attacked several hours later, at around 4am on July 20, at the same address on Investigator Street in Red Hill by a group of five to eight people wearing face masks.
Police suspect that the three attacks are linked and are calling on people who meet for the first time in real life via dating apps to meet in a public place, such as a cafe, restaurant or shopping centre.
“We encourage anyone with information about these incidents in Denman Prospect and Red Hill, or other similar incidents where people may have been targeted for violence because of their sexual orientation, to come forward,” a police spokesperson said.
‘Police would like to speak to anyone who lives in the vicinity of Ada Norris Avenue, Denman Prospect or Investigator and Discovery Street in Red Hill who may have witnessed the incidents or who may have CCTV footage of the incidents.’