Watch: Brutal P-Town Attack Investigated as Possible Hate Crime; City Beefs Up Police Presence for a Safe and Welcoming July 4th

Has hate come to Provincetown?

The Cape Cod fishing village long seen as a queer destination has recently been the site of several seemingly bias-driven incidents, including a brutal beating in which three slur-hurling men allegedly emerged from a car with a Trump bumper sticker and attacked a lone victim.

City officials say they take all such reports seriously, and will deploy "additional officers" as they work to ensure that this weekend's July 4th celebrations are happy, proud, and free from bias-driven violence.

"Provincetown police said the victim reported that three men got out of a vehicle and attacked him on the east end of Bradford Street between 1 and 2 a.m." on June 30, NBC News reported. "The person didn't need hospitalization after being evaluated by paramedics Monday afternoon."

The news item went on to detail, "The victim described the car as a black Lexus sedan, and described the attackers as three men ages 20 to 30.

"They also reported that the suspects used a homophobic slur during the attack."

The Boston Globe detailed that the man claiming to have been attacked by the three assailants identified himself as Chris Kostka in social media posts in which he talked about the incident.

The Globe also noted that the alleged attack on Kostka was only one of "a 'series' of incidents in recent days targeting members of the LGBTQ+ community in the town".

Describing the terrifying ordeal to NBC Boston, Kostka said, "All of a sudden I just feel myself getting pushed to the ground. I fly forward and I turn I see three guys and of course, I'm stunned from just being thrown to the pavement and I just cover my face, go into a fetal position as I'm getting kicked and getting called some gay slurs."

With facial lacerations visible on camera, Kostka said the men who beat him were wearing "jeans and T-shirts," with one of the alleged assailants wearing "a black cap".

Kostka took note of the vehicle the attackers got into after they beat him – and of the Trump bumper sticker he says the car sported, NBC Boston relayed.

"I was just in, like, shock," Kostka told the news channel. "You let your guard down because it's such a happy place for everyone. It's so safe, and you just don't expect that."

"Police are asking anyone in the area of Howland Street to check personal security or doorbell cameras for any possible footage captured during the window of the assault that could assist with their investigation," the Boston Globe noted.

The writeup also detailed that on July 1, police received reports of "people yelling homophobic slurs from a vehicle". Law enforcement promptly "located the vehicle and identified the suspects," the report said.

NBC Boston reported that charges in that case have been brought against "19-year-old Ryan Mahimtura of Framingham, 19-year-old Henry Ward of Hudson and a minor from Hudson," with the charges being "two counts of disorderly conduct" each.

"More charges may be filed in the incident."

"The Provincetown Police Department wrote on Facebook that the group 'allegedly drove through town threateningly with air horns yelling homophobic slurs from their vehicle at several people,'" NBC Boston added.

Town Manager Alex Morse released a statement on in which he assured the public that hate crimes would not be overlooked by the town's law enforcement.

"These events are disturbing, and we share the fear and discomfort they are causing in our community," Morse said in the statement, the Globe detailed. "The Town and the Provincetown Police Department are taking these incidents very seriously and are actively investigating."

Morse pointed to the rapid response by police to the July 1 incident as proof of local law enforcement's commitment to keeping the peace and protecting the public, and underscored that the police response was enabled by the public's prompt reports.

"Our Police Department's quick response should serve as a warning to those who come here to cause harm that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in Provincetown," Morse declared.

Morse also sought to reassure Fourth of July revelers that they would be safe if they choose to celebrate the long weekend in P-Town.

"While recent events have shown that hate can happen here, it has no home here," the town manager declared. "We will – as generations before us have – come together, protect one another, and ensure that Provincetown remains a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone who lives and visits here.

"We will not let hate win," Morse added. "Go out and have fun this weekend, support local businesses, tip your Drag Queens, enjoy the Fireworks, and dance the night away."

Morse said that Provincetown police will safeguard the weekend's festivities as they "look for suspicious and potentially harmful activity and be a visible presence."

Watch Kostka's comments to NBC Boston below.