News (World)

Transgender teen stabbed 14 times in a park while attackers shouted slurs

LONDON / ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23, 2016: A London Metropolitan Police officer talks to two women on the street
LONDON / ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23, 2016: A London Metropolitan Police officer talks to two women on the street Photo: Shutterstock

Four people have been arrested and one charged with attempted murder after an 18-year-old transgender woman was stabbed repeatedly in London over the weekend.

The London Evening Standard reports that the victim, who has not been identified, was attending a roller-skating party with friends in the Wealdstone district of Northwest London on Saturday evening, when a group of people attacked her around 7 p.m. She was subjected to slurs and stabbed 14 times. She was rushed to the hospital for treatment and has since been discharged.

Police have arrested four people in connection with the attack.

On Tuesday, one of the suspects appeared in court. Summer Betts-Ramsey, 19, was charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in public, according to The Standard. She will remain in custody until her plea hearing on March 12.

While Betts-Ramsey did not enter a plea this week, the court was told she denies any involvement in the attack.

“We continue to appeal for anyone who may have been in the area or who believes they have further information to come forward and speak to us”, said lead investigator Detective Inspector Nicola Hannant. “We have increased police patrols in the area and would encourage people to approach these officers with any information or concerns.”

The February 10 attack comes almost exactly one year to the day after another transgender teen, 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, was brutally stabbed to death by two other teens in a Northwest England park.

“We are horrified to hear that yet another trans girl has been stabbed in the U.K. this past weekend,” Laura Mackay, CEO of LGBTQ+ youth organization Just Like Us, said in a statement. “No one should ever have to fear for their safety because they are part of the LGBT+ community.”

“Just one year on from the murder of Brianna Ghey, we are still witnessing anti-trans jokes in Parliament, shocking comments across social media platforms, and newspaper headlines that seek to mock and vilify. It is clear that transphobia, in any guise and at any level, leads to devastating hate crimes,” Mackay’s statement continued. “Trans young people deserve to feel safe at home, at school, or while out roller-skating with their friends – the violence must stop.”

Editor’s Note: This article originally misidentified the location of Brianna Ghey’s murder. We regret the error.

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