Community leaders, the police and councillors all gathered in public to update concerned residents about a shocking assault that was filmed and shared on social media.
Hundreds of people descended upon the Anchor Business Park car park, off Featherstall Road, Oldham, on Sunday afternoon (July 3) after the disturbing video went viral and an impromptu public meeting was called. In the clip, a male victim is savagely beaten by a group of attackers.
Blood can be seen pouring from the victim's face as he is pinned down and repeatedly hit and kicked whilst screaming on the floor. One of the attackers shouts 'strip him' and his clothes are then ripped off during the vicious attack before he is left naked and in a bloodied heap on the floor.
READ MORE : What happened to each of Rochdale's grooming 'monsters' after they were jailed - and why it matters
Despite being shared on social media in the last 48 hours, the incident actually happened on June 21, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed. GMP also said that it was followed by related attacks at three properties in the Westwood and Werneth areas.
At the meeting, inspector Alan Sanders, from GMP's Oldham district, confirmed that three people have been arrested in connection to the original assault.
He said: "I know emotions are high and that you feel police have been slow on the uptake with this. I apologise for that.
"We know things now, following the events of yesterday, that we didn’t know on the 21st. That has changed the urgency and risk and we’ve quite rightly stepped up our investigation.
"We have already made three arrests in relation to this incident and we know there are other in people involved. If we can identify those people, we will also arrest those.
"I can’t update you anymore in relation to that as they have not been interviewed yet and the investigation is ongoing but you will get updates in due course from your representatives in your community.
"I would ask that there isn’t any more retribution and disorder - all that does is distract us from the investigation into the initial event. You will see more officers on your streets in the coming days to reassure you but also to encourage you to engage with the officers and if you know something, please speak to them because it will help with the investigation."
Community activist Nanu Miah told the crowd that the victim moved to the UK seven months ago and had a student visa. Addressing the follow-up attacks, he stressed that people 'cannot take matters into our own hands'.
"I know that a lot of us are disturbed and moved by what we’ve seen," he said.
"There are rumours going around about the boy but thank God he is still alive. He is recovering but traumatised. He is in a state of shock.
"He doesn’t have any immediate family over here but the whole of Oldham has become his family. We cannot take matters into our own hands, we need to allow the police to deal with it."
Councillor Abdul Jabbar, deputy leader of Oldham Council, also asked for calm.
"This a terrible incident and everybody is rightly outraged by it," he added. "When something like this happens, the community gets rightly angry and wants to find out what’s happened.
"Are we outraged? Absolutely. Do we want to stop this happening again? Absolutely. The message from me, the council and the police is to be calm. We will go after these people and bring them to justice but we need to trust the police to do that. "
Marcus Miah, another community leader, gave an emotional speech and said that adults in the local community need to 'set an example' to younger people.
He said: "This little boy has been victimised, traumatised and beaten so badly. This could be anyone’s little boy.
"Passion has been running very high but we have children of our own and we need to set an example to them. The incidents that followed are not something we promote or encourage; we reject all the behaviours that followed this.
"I am proud that we are standing here today, united. We are all here because we care. What we need to do is have faith in the people who are going to provide that justice."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log 1708 of the July 3 2022. Alternatively, information can be passed on, anonymously, via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Read more of today's top stories here
- Heartless thief brazenly steals charity box from ice cream parlour
- Large police presence and cordon outside a shop in south Manchester
Teenager charged with murder after 30-year-old man stabbed to death
Man seriously injured after smash involving car and motorbike
Two arrested after smash between car and bus as police close road
