Hunt for gay hate attacker

Police are hunting this man after a 25-year-old was stabbed four times in what officers believe was a homophobic attack.

The victim and a 38-year-old male friend were returning home on a bus from a night out in the West End when the assailant struck.

Police believe they were deliberately targeted by their attacker who followed them on to a night bus in the Tottenham Court Road area at about 4am yesterday.

Scotland Yard today released this CCTV image of the suspected attacker on board the N20 bus near Highgate.

The attack happened as the bus travelled past Highgate Underground station in Archway Road.

It came five days after the murder of gay barman David Morley, 37, who was beaten to death by teenage thugs on the South Bank. Mr Morley survived the Soho nail bomb attack in 1999 at the Admiral-Duncan pub in which three died. A vigil will be held for him at the pub at 6.30 tonight.

In the latest apparent gay-hate attack, the victim was stabbed in the neck, arm and leg. His injuries are not thought to be life- threatening. A Yard spokesman said: "We are treating this as a homophobic attack."

The suspect is believed to have boarded the bus at Camden and then sat behind the two men as they cuddled on the top deck. He became annoyed at their apparent gay relationship and began shouting abuse at them and hurling food.

It is understood he was thrown off the bus but forced the rear doors open and got back on as it resumed its journey. He then carried out the stabbing.

The attacker is of Mediterranean-or eastern European appearance and aged about 25, with proportionate build and a north London accent. A redandwhite baseball cap was left at the scene and a detailed search for fingerprints on the bus has been carried out.

The victim had exploratory surgery at the nearby Whittingham Hospital and is expected to be discharged over the weekend.

Police have ruled out a link between the attack and the murder of Mr Morley. Six people are being questioned today in connection with his killing.

Detectives are also investigating a separate attack in Turnpike Lane on Sunday evening when a man in his twenties was beaten up on his way home from a local gay bar.

Anyone with information on the night bus stabbing should contact Haringey Community Safety Unit on 020 8345 1866 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.