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London’s famed ‘Gay’s the Word’ book store vandalized

London’s famed ‘Gay’s the Word’ book store vandalized

LONDON — The staff of London’s famed “Gay’s The Word” bookstore on Monday arrived for work to find the front window smashed and that the storefront vandalized with eggs.

In an interview with PinkNews, the store’s assistant manager Uli Lenart said that Metropolitan police indicated that several witnesses reported seeing a group of youths “rampaging” up and down the street at around 12:30 a.m. and throwing eggs at another store.

The shop, which is 33 years old, was not raided and Mr. Lenart said he was unsure of the cost of the damage.

Mr. Lenart said he did not know whether the shop was attacked because it is a gay store, but pointed out that no other shops in the area had their windows smashed.

He said: “They were apparently laughing their heads off as they smashed the window. One can’t jump to conclusions but the facts are there.”

He added: “We are just relieved that the rock wasn’t followed by a match.”

Gay’s the Word decided to stay open for trading today and Mr Lenart said staff had been touched by the kindness and support of local people, some of whom brought in bunches of flowers.

Lenart told the PinkNews that according to the police, the youths who were on bicycles, had apparently left the area on Marchmont Street and then reappeared ten minutes later with a rock and a bottle, which they threw through the shop’s front window before escaping.

Metropolitan police are continuing their investigation.

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