Attack outside Manchester gay bar AXM
A 60-year-old is in critical condition after an attack outside Manchester gay bar AXM.
Police say the victim was a man who was ‘cross-dressed’ at the time of the assault. Family says the victim identifies as a man.
Reports on social media have also suggested the victim may have been a drag queen. However, at this time, we are unable to verify the victim’s gender identity. Therefore we will use gender-neutral pronouns unless we are quoting the police.
Victim in critical condition after attack outside Manchester gay bar
At around 4.45am on 30 June 2018, police were called to reports of an assault on Bloom Street.
A police spokesperson reported: ‘A 60-year-old man – who was cross-dressed at the time of the assault – had been outside AXM bar when he was approached by a man who punched him to the floor.
‘The victim was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition’.
A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault. He remains in custody for questioning.
Police are not treating the attack as a hate crime yet.
Enquiries are ongoing.
Detective Inspector Patrick Goodrich, of GMP’s City of Manchester division, called it a ‘shocking attack’.
He said: ‘This was a shocking attack on an innocent man who was enjoying his evening but has now been left in a critical condition in hospital. Our thoughts remain with him and his family as he receives treatment.
Investigation in ‘early stages’
‘While we have arrested a man, our investigation is still in its very early stages. We are working hard to establish the exact circumstances that led to this incident although it is not believed to be a hate crime at this stage.
‘We can see from CCTV footage that there was a white woman with blonde hair who was wearing a red top and black trousers in close proximity to the attack and we believe she may hold vital information. I want to stress that she is not in any trouble but I would urge her to get in touch as she may have key details that would assist our enquiries.”
‘I would also appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the assault or anyone with information to get in touch.’
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 4409 quoting incident number 471 of 30/06/2018, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
