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Gay Adult Store Attacked for Second Time in Two Months
Gay Adult Store Attacked for Second Time in Two Months
Locals say both attacks were “targeted” and police are asking for the public’s help.
For the second time in as many months, a gay adult book and novelty store in the U.K. was vandalized.
Clonezone Manchester in Manchester reported its glass front door was deliberately damaged by vandals on the evening of Thursday, April 13. The attack followed a similar incident of vandalism targeting the store that took place last month on Wednesday, March 22.
While the front door was damaged, nobody was reported injured in either attack.
“It saddens me to, again, be writing this but would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of well wishes and support we have received after the second incident of targeted vandalism against Clonezone Manchester,” Clonezone posted to Twitter on Friday.
\u201c\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83d\udcaa\u201d— Clonezone Manchester \u2022 #LGBwiththeT (@Clonezone Manchester \u2022 #LGBwiththeT) 1681485781
The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed the incident in a statement made available to the Manchester Evening News.
“At around 9:45 pm last night (Thursday 13 April 2023) Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of criminal damage at a premises on Sackville Street, Manchester,” a spokesperson for the GMP said in a statement. “Officers attended the scene and an investigation has subsequently been launched to determine the full circumstances surrounding this incident.”
City Councillor Pat Karney decried the vandalism against the store.
“Second targeted attack on Clonezone last night,” Karney posted to Twitter.
\u201cSecond Targeted Attack on Clonezone last night.\nJust called to see the staff.\nWe have valuable information so the Council and GMP will go through our CCTV in the Gay Village and across the city centre.\nWe will track down these hate criminals.-\u2066@Piccadilly_Lab\u2069\u201d— Pat Karney (@Pat Karney) 1681467310
Despite the attacks, Clonezone remained both defiant and upbeat, reaching out to thank the community for their outpouring of support.
“Jan 2024 we celebrate 40 years of being loud proud and unapologetically queer on Machester’s queer scene,” Clonezone posted last month after the first incident, adding they have “no intention” of closing up shop.
\u201cA massive thankyou for the well wishes & comments after wednesday, the team is fine & we're open as normal\nJan 2024 we celebrate 40yrs of being loud proud & unapologetically queer on Mcr's queer scene & have no intention of being anything other than that\n\ud83d\udcaa\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\n#QueerManchester\u201d— Clonezone Manchester \u2022 #LGBwiththeT (@Clonezone Manchester \u2022 #LGBwiththeT) 1679653615
Anyone with information on the incident should contact the GMP online at www.gmp.police.uk or the outside charity online at Crimestoppers. All tips can be reported anonymously.
