Police have released CCTV images of a woman they want to speak to after a man was attacked in a possible homophobic hate crime in Hackney.

The victim was walking along Homerton High Street, in Hackney, east London, at around 5.15am on Sunday (October 27) when he was subjected to homophobic verbal abuse. He was then assaulted by a woman armed with a glass bottle. The attack is being treated as a hate crime by police.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “The victim attended hospital with serious facial injuries. Inquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made. At this early stage of the investigation, the attack is being treated as a hate crime.”

Research for Stonewall, published last month, found that 56% of queer people in the UK you don’t feel safe holding hands in public because of the prejudice they might face. The charity called on the government to tackle the rise LGBTQ+ hate crimes.

Anyone who recognizes the woman in the footage has been asked to contact the Met.

Information can be provided by calling 101 or texting @MetCC on X and quoting CAD 1890/27Oct. Anonymous tips can be given to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.