Man, 19, arrested for Haarlem gay bashing; Suspect turned himself in

The police arrested a 19-year-old man from Haarlem for a gay bashing incident in the city early this month. He is suspected of severely beating a 30-year-old man after the victim had mentioned he was gay. The suspect turned himself in on Wednesday, the police said.

The incident happened at around 3:30 a.m. on August 1 on Smedestraat in Haarlem. Responding officers found the victim, Trevor, severely injured and unconscious on the street.

Trevor, a refugee who fled Uganda because of his orientation, later told the police that he was speaking with a stranger in Haarlem city center during a night out. After the man made a comment about women, Trevor casually mentioned that he was attracted to men, and the other man immediately attacked him.

The suspect is in custody for further investigation, the police said.

Trevor’s assault prompted a march through Haarlem, protesting against violence against people from the LGBTQIA+ community.

Mayor Jos Wienen also participated in the protest. “What makes it even more painful is that Trevor came here from Uganda seeking safety. And then, damn it, you arrive in our beautiful Haarlem… and you get beaten up. This is unacceptable.”