Second attempted murder charge over 'hate crime'

A second teenager has been charged with attempted murder after a man was attacked in an incident, which police say they are treating as a hate crime.

A homophobic remark was allegedly made during the attack on the 50-year-old victim, understood to be Sikh, on St Paul's Road, Smethwick, on Sunday, West Midlands Police said.

A 17-year-old was charged with attempted murder on Friday and was remanded into youth detention by magistrates in Birmingham.

A second 17-year-old was arrested on Friday in the Dudley area, the force said, and has been remanded in custody ahead of appearing at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Saturday.

The victim remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

The force said there was no evidence that the attack was motivated by race or religion and has asked anyone with information to contact them.

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

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