Third teenager held after anti-Semitic attack in Manchester

A third 17-year-old boy from Prestwich has been arrested following an anti-Semitic attack in Bury which left three people in hospital after being chased and beaten.

He was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and violent disorder after he presented himself at a local police station, said Greater Manchester Police.

The youth is being questioned in custody along with two other 17-year-old boys who were arrested earlier in Whitefield and Derbyshire.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said that a group of three men and one boy had been waiting for a tram in Bury when they were verbally and physically assaulted by offenders on the opposite platform.

GMP has described it as a “sustained and unprovoked” attack which has caused upset and anxiety in the Jewish community.

The assault happened at around 11.30 pm on September 5, at Bowker Vale Metrolink stop in the Prestwich area of Bury.

A 17-year-old boy suffered a serious head injury and remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Two 18-year-old men were taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries, but have since been discharged.

Detective Inspector Liam Boden of GMP’s North Manchester Division said: “I know this crime has caused upset and anxiety in the Jewish community, particularly as this has happened just prior to the start of the Jewish High Holy Days, and I want to offer reassurance that hate crime will not be tolerated and we will do everything we can to stop it.”

He added: “There are two distinct scenes, as we believe the victims were chased from the platform to Middleton Road and that is where the most serious assault took place.

“We would therefore like to ask anyone who may have been travelling along Middleton Road at around 11.25pm on Saturday, or anyone who believes they may have witnessed the attack, to come forward.

“Similarly, we believe the offenders then alighted the Metrolink towards Bury at around 11.35pm, travelling between Bowker Vale and Radcliffe.”

Extra patrols are to be put in place.

Amanda Bomsztyk, northern regional director of the Community Security Trust (CST) said: “There is far too much Anti-Semitic abuse and violence, and we hope these arrests will send a strong message, providing some reassurance to the Jewish community.”

Greater Manchester police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd said: “The police are treating this as a hate crime and, while we don’t know the full details of this particular incident, I want to make clear that all reports of hate crime will be dealt with seriously.

“We have seen a significant rise in reports of hate crime and in particular anti-Semitic hate crime reports, which have risen by more than half over the past year.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.