Attempted murder charge after 'hate crime' attack

A teenager has been charged with attempted murder after a 50-year-old man was seriously attacked in what police said they were now treating as a hate crime.

A homophobic remark was allegedly made during Sunday's assault on the victim, understood to be Sikh, on St Paul's Road, Smethwick, West Midlands Police said.

There was no evidence that the attack was motivated by race or religion, they added.

The 17-year-old appeared before magistrates in Birmingham today and was remanded into youth detention, to next appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 17 July, the force said.

The victim remained in hospital and was in a critical but stable condition, they added.

A second 17-year-old boy was arrested following the attack, on Friday morning in the Dudley area, on suspicion of attempted murder.

He would be questioned in due course, detectives said.

The BBC has seen video footage filmed in the aftermath of the attack that showed an injured man being helped by members of the public.

Ch Supt Kim Madill said: "I know the real concern and anger that this attack has caused in the area.

"I've been in touch with representatives from the community throughout the week to reassure them that we are doing everything we can to establish what happened and who was responsible."

Anyone who might have been in the Tollhouse Way or St Paul's area at the time or who had any information about the attack was urged by officers to contact them.

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