Gold Coast crime: Tourist claims he was brutally bashed in homophobic attack at Coomera shopping centre

Gold Coast detectives have charged two teenagers over the alleged violent assault of a young man at one of the Gold Coast’s largest shopping centres.

Joshua says he may not return to the Gold Coast on holiday due to the alleged attack. Picture: Glenn Hampson

THIS man has vowed never to return to Queensland after claiming he was taunted and viciously bashed by a “bloodthirsty” gang of teenage thugs at one of the city’s largest shopping centres.

Joshua (surname withheld) says he was on a one-week holiday visiting family from Melbourne on Tuesday when he and his 16-year-old brother were set upon at Coomera Westfield. He suffered broken ribs and a swollen face. His little brother sustained fractured ribs, a swollen eye and split lip.

Joshua says the pair were “hunted” down at the shopping centre after a terrifying homophobic rant and beating by a group of teenagers on a bus that morning.

He says he and his brother were called “f — king faggots” and “gay c — ts”.

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Joshua was on a one-week visit to the Gold Coast from Melbourne when he was attached.. Picture Glenn Hampson

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Hours later at 2.10pm, the pair were eating lunch at a restaurant at Coomera Westfield when a group of about 10 teenagers attacked them again.

Some members of the gang were present during the morning attack, he says. The bashing lasted a few minutes.

Joshua and his brother were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital by ambulance.

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Joshua and his brother have been left shaken. Picture Glenn Hampson

Joshua the day after the alleged attack. Picture Glenn Hampson

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Detectives last night charged two teenagers in relation to the incident.

About 6pm a 15-year-old from Upper Coomera was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm whilst armed/in company, he will be dealt with according to the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.

An 18-year-old Upper Coomera man has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm whilst armed in/company and is due to face Southport Magistrates Court on October 2.

Police are still searching for the others involved in the assault, with more charges expected to be laid.

Joshua said the attacks had left them shaken and reinforced the notion that the Gold Coast — and much of Queensland — remained homophobic.

The 21-year-old said he and his adopted family had moved to Melbourne to escape homophobia after living in Queensland, and that he was up here visiting his biological family on a one-week holiday.

“It’s just horrible, it’s cruel,” he said.

“It was completely unwarranted, it’s just brutal violence. It’s a hate crime. I feel like I can’t go back to Queensland (anymore), it’s shaken me.

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Joshua after the alleged attack. Picture: supplied

“I feel like me being gay, that I have put him (my brother) in danger. It wasn’t once but twice. I have a lot of guilt.”

During the attack, Joshua said they spotted the group looking around the area as if “hunting” someone, before the teens made their way over.

The gang only stopped attacking them when a security guard rushed over, he says.

“They were bloodthirsty … the first time was very traumatic but the second time they hunted us down.

“We didn’t even get the chance to stand up from the table and defend ourselves, they kept stomping on us. It was relentless.”

Despite the attack, Joshua said he hoped those who attacked them could “find happiness within themselves, because the only people that hurt people, are those who are hurt”.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said police attended the shopping centre on Tuesday and investigations are continuing.