Man slashed with machete in ‘homophobic attack’ in London

Victim, in 20s, stabbed in leg after suspect made offensive comments, police say

A man in his 20s was stabbed in the leg with a machete during a suspected homophobic attack in Surrey Quays Road, Southwark, southeast London, on 23 July 2019. (Google)

A man was stabbed in the leg with a machete in broad daylight during a suspected homophobic attack in southeast London.

The victim, in his 20s, was rushed to hospital after he was targeted in Surrey Quays Road, near Canada Water underground station, at about 3.12pm on Tuesday.

Metropolitan Police say the incident is being treated as a hate crime after homophobic comments were made to the man.

The incident is understood to have taken place outside a Sainsbury's store near the tube station.

A police spokeswoman said: “It was reported a man had been attacked with a machete. Officers attended and found a man, aged in his 20s, with a wound to his leg.

“He was taken by London Ambulance Service to a south London hospital where he remains in a stable condition. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

“Enquiries into the circumstances remain ongoing. The suspect made homophobic comments and, for this reason, the incident is being treated as a hate crime.”

The attacker is believed to have fled the scene on a motorbike, the force added.

No arrests have yet been made.