Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, are investigating a reported homophobic assault involving death threats against a member of Espai LGTBI de Girona in Girona city centre.
The case is being treated as a possible hate crime. For Girona residents who witnessed the incident or can identify the alleged attacker, Espai LGTBI de Girona has asked them to contact the Mossos.
According to reporting by Albert Segura for ACN, published by ARA, the victim reported on social media that the incident happened on Saturday.
The victim said an alleged attacker grabbed them by the neck and told them: “I will kill you for being gay.”
Espai LGTBI de Girona asks witnesses to contact police
Espai LGTBI de Girona said the alleged attacker had been involved in similar incidents on previous occasions. That claim comes from the organisation and has not been confirmed by the police investigation.
The group has called on people who believe they have experienced an assault by the same person, or violence related to their sexual orientation, to report it.
- Witnesses who saw Saturday's reported assault should contact the Mossos.
- Anyone able to identify the alleged attacker should provide that information to police.
- People who say they have been assaulted by the same person should make a report through the Mossos hate and discrimination service.
ACN reported that the case has also been notified to the Observatori contra l'Homofòbia i LGTBI-fòbia, an organisation that follows cases of homophobia and LGBTI-phobia. Espai LGTBI de Girona condemned the reported assault and acknowledged the collaboration of the Ajuntament de Girona, the city council.
Primary sources: mossos.gencat.cat, mossos.gencat.cat, mossos.gencat.cat. Reported by Source Text Link, Albert Segura / ACN, ACN, Julio Collado, Eva Batlle, Raquel Girones.
