Police following several leads after ‘brutal’ anti-Semitic attack in Manchester

Greater Manchester Police this week said they had several leads in the hunt for three men who beat a Jewish teenager unconscious in a vicious “anti-Semitic” attack on Saturday night. 

The Community Security Trust expressed concern and dismay at the assault at a north Manchester tram station, which left the 17-year old in hospital with serious head injuries. Three others, aged between 18-20 years, were injured.

The attack happened at 11.30pm at Bowker Vale Metrolink station, with four men set upon by three other men. No arrests have been made, and there were suggestions this week that drugs may have been involved.

“Three men had approached a group of four men who were waiting for a tram and verbally and physically assaulted them,” said a GMP spokeswoman, with police now “following up a number of positive lines of enquiry”. 

The 17-year old, who was wearing a kippah, “remains in hospital with serious head injuries,” as tram station were closed to Bury-bound passengers on Monday morning, with forensics teams working at the scene. 

“This appears to be a particularly serious and worrying anti-Semitic assault,” said a CST spokesman, after police said they were treating it as a race-hate incident, and as grievous bodily harm with intent.

Board Vice President Marie van der Zyl called it a brutal, unprovoked and cowardly assault,” and Communities Minister Baroness Williams said she was “appalled” to hear of the attack.

Jonathan Sacerdoti of the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said: “When Jews are attacked going about their everyday lives, in this case waiting for a tram, things have definitely gone too far.”