Teenage girl left with bloodied face after homophobic attack

A teenager was left with a bleeding face after suffering a homophobic attack in Hull, England.

Photos of 18-year-old Ellie-Mae Mulholland’s bloodied face were shared online and generated outrage. 

Humberside Police launched an investigation into the attack and two women have been arrested. 

Ellie-Mae's sister, who shared the pictures on Facebook, said she had been targeted on Sunday because she is a lesbian. Two attackers are said to have beaten Ellie-Mae, calling her a "f***ing lesbian" and saying "you and your girlfriend are going to get it ten times worse next time."Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, described the incident as "truly shocking".

He said: "It’s horrible and simply wrong that for so many LGBT+ people in the UK and around the world, fear and violence are a part of their everyday lives."

Police first revealed in a statement released on Tuesday that one woman has been arrested in connection with the alleged hate crime.

The force said in the statement: "A 21-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with an alleged assault on another woman in Hull which we are now investigating as a hate crime.

"It happened on Swannage Walk on Sunday, July 8. An 18-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted between 3pm and 4pm and sustained facial injuries which needed hospital treatment.

"The woman who is from Hull has been arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm and possessing a controlled drug. She remains in our custody."

Later, officers said another girl, 16, had also been arrested on suspicion of assault.