Police arrest two 17-year-olds over transgender hate crime attack in Rotterdam

The police have arrested two 17-year-old boys from Rotterdam and Gouda on suspicion of assaulting two sisters in April of this year at the Zuidplein station in Rotterdam. One of the two victims is a transgender woman. The police suspect that this is the reason the sisters were attacked.

The two got on the subway at the Maashaven station on April 5. They departed the subway at Zuidplein, which is when the boys started hitting, kicking, and pushing the victims. "Given the nature of the insults, this also appeared to have been the motive for the perpetrators," the police said.

Bystanders and employees of the Rotterdam transport company RET managed to rescue the sisters. Images of the suspects, who were able to escape the scene, were shown in the regional crime show Bureau Rijnmond.

This led to the police receiving many tips and the arrest of one of the suspects. The police were able to arrest the second suspect after an investigation.

The police emphasized that anyone who is a victim of LGBTIQ+-related incidents, or suspects that someone in their environment is being threatened or harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can contact Roze in Blauw, which is the national network of police officers who specialize in supporting LGBTIQ+ victims.