Police Warn Gays in London of Possible Serial Killer

Police warned the members of London’s gay community Wednesday to be vigilant because a possible serial killer may be singling them out.

Police say they believe that the murderer, who has taunted them with phone calls, may be seeking revenge at random after contracting the HIV virus from a homosexual encounter in Central London. But they have not explained why they believe that may be the motive.

Five men have been killed in the last few days, including a West End theater director, an American official of a multinational company and a librarian. Police were seeking the identity of the latest victim, whom they described as gay. The man’s body was discovered in his apartment late Tuesday.

According to some reports, the killer has called West London police stations and told detectives that he plans to commit a murder a week.

Police warned gays of the dangers they face if they pick up strangers for casual sexual relationships.

“We feel we owe this to the gay community,” said Ken John, supervisor of detectives. “We have to warn individual practicing homosexuals who are frequenting various pubs, restaurants and bars in London to be aware that somebody who is prepared to attack their community is about in the city.”

Various homosexual organizations, such as Stonewall, OutRage and the London Gay and Lesbian Switchboard, repeated the police warnings, urging their members to exercise extreme caution.