News
Tokyo:Gay men mugged, 4 youths arrested
- 27 July 2006
 ANN reported on Thursday that a group of boys were arrested in connection to a series of muggings which targeted gays in a Tokyo park popular for cruising.
4 boys, including an 18-year-old high school student in Koto-ku, were arrested. They are suspected of having knocked a 34-year-old man to the ground, beaten and kicked him, and robbed 21,000 yen (approx. US $180) on the night of July 8 in Yumenoshima Park . The victim received severe injuries that would take 40 days to heal. The arrested have told the authorities that they thought gays would not report crimes to the police. The police investigating the case are looking at connections with other muggings that have happened in the area.
In February 2000, 2 boys and a 25-year-old man were arrested for murder of a 33-year-old man in the Yumenoshima Park area. Gay rights groups and activists have believed it was a homophobic crime. (Editors: azusa yamashita and Tom Paine) |
