A TRANS man was reportedly set upon by a gang of thugs in Bournemouth earlier this month.

The incident has been reported online by one news outlet ­- Pink News - describing a brutal attack on a resident of Bournemouth which he said occurred on Friday, June 18.

The article reported that the victim said he thought he was “going to die” as he was held at knife point before the group tore his clothing.

The victim shared images of injuries he sustained on his Instagram page in a post which has amassed thousands of comments condemning the attack.

Also in the article, it was claimed that he had spoken to Dorset Police but his complaint had been ignored.

The force said they had no record of such incident being reported to them to date.

Dorset Police Chief Superintendent Mark Callaghan said: "We are aware of information circulating on social media and in one media outlet about a possible incident that may have occurred in Bournemouth on Friday, June 18, 2021.

“Officers have looked into the information available and have not been able to find a record of such an incident.

“We will be actively seeking to engage with the victim to ensure a thorough investigation and the necessary support is provided.

"We would encourage any victims of hate crime or assaults to please come forward and report it to Dorset Police.

“Dorset Police takes all reports of hate crime or hate incidents very seriously and will investigate any matters that are brought to our attention."

Meanwhile, David Sidwick, recently-appointed Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, said: “I was appalled to hear about the attack, reported in the Pink News, on a young trans man in Bournemouth.

“All forms of hate crime are abhorrent and have no place in our county, but it is particularly disturbing to hear about this during Pride Month – a celebration of our LGBT communities.

“I am absolutely committed to providing better support for all victims, which of course includes those who have experienced hate crime.

“As this is an operational matter I am not able to comment further about the incident itself.

“However, I would like to reassure the LGBT community that this allegation is being treated very seriously and I am currently speaking to the Chief Constable about the matter.”

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