Windows of a restaurant in Oldham were smashed in an attack being linked by police to the investigation into the assault of a teenager who was beaten in an alleged ambush and a string of 'retaliation' incidents.
Police chiefs revealed details of the attack today as they stood side-by-side with senior council bosses to appeal for calm and for the public to continue to work with the police. CCTV covering the Westwood East restaurant on Eleanor Street, Coldhurst, was being examined, said Oldham's chief of police.
Chief Superintendent Chris Bowen said the attack, reported at around 2am on Tuesday, involved a group armed with baseball bats or sticks and that a number of windows were smashed. No arrests have been made as yet, but investigations are ongoing. "We believe it to be linked to the ongoing investigation," he said.
Chief Supt Bowen joined Sayyed Osman, Oldham Council's deputy chief executive, to speak outside Oldham police station. Together, they appealed for the public to give police the time and space needed to conduct an investigation properly, adding: "Retaliation in any form is counterproductive."
Police have made three arrests - all 17-year-old boys - after the teenager, 19, was brutally beaten and stripped in an attack filmed on camera. And it was revealed that police are now 'seeking a number of further individuals who have been involved in the incident'.
A video circulated over the weekend on social media showing the assault, which was carried out on a footpath behind the Tesco store in Westwood. In the clip, blood can be seen pouring from the victim's face as he is pinned down and repeatedly hit and kicked whilst screaming on the ground. The attack happened on June 21 and police said the three people held remained on 'strict' police bail.
The attack is not being treated as a hate crime, police added.
But GMP said that since the footage was shared on social media, there have been a series of 'retaliation' incidents, including the windows of a house being smashed on Hurst Street, near the original assault.
The Manchester Evening News revealed last night one line of enquiry is that the boy was ambushed after arranging to meet a girl in a 'set up'. His legal representative, Monira Khatun Hussain, said the boy only moved to the country from Bangladesh seven months ago after obtaining a visa to study at the University of Huddersfield and said he was tricked into going to the area after 'trying to meet a friend'.
Chief Supt Bowen said the teenager was now back with his family. He said the ongoing investigation wasn't believed to be connected 'in any way' to the recent publication of a report into child sexual abuse and grooming in Oldham.
An impromptu public meeting was held at the Anchor Business Park car park off Featherstall Road North on Sunday. At the meeting, a number of residents raised concerns about the police's handling of the incident and questioned why no arrests were made for almost two weeks.
But explaining the situation, Chief Supt Bowen said: "At the time, for a number of reasons, it was very hard to get a true and accurate reflection of what had happened. There were issues around the injuries he had sustained and the issues that we had around language, which we were dealing with through an interpreter."
He said the incident was 'crimed' and an investigator was allocated to the incident, with detectives visiting the teenager in hospital the following day to take an account. But, he said, at the time there was no CCTV coverage and the victim couldn't describe his attackers. "So it became a slow time investigation," he said.
Detectives, he went on, immediately worked to assess CCTV from the surrounding area, looking at who approached and left areas near the scene. Then, Chief Supt Bowen said, the video was published on social media.
"As soon as we were aware of that video, we took action," he said. "Those three people [who were arrested] are now on strict police bail as we continue with our investigation. "We are also seeking a number of further individuals who have been involved in the incident.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for coming forward with that information which assisted us in taking the investigation forward. But I would also like to ask the community to give us the opportunity to deal with the incident.
"To give us the time and the space that we need to conduct a thorough investigation, not to speculate on things on social media and that if they do get any information they believe can assist us, to pass it to us straight away.
"Retaliation in any form is counterproductive. It heightens community tensions and it makes the situation worse. Retaliation will be treated as seriously as the initial offence. And for those involved in retaliation, arrests will follow and the full might of the law will be used in the exactly the same way as we will use it against the initial offence.
"My biggest appeal, is an appeal for calm. There will be an increased visibility of officers out and about over the coming days."
Stop and search powers will be deployed, he said, and weapons 'will not be tolerated on the streets of Oldham'. "Positive action will be taken, " said Chief Supt Bowen. "So I ask one last time, please, work with us not against us.
"I am aware that the events of the last few days will be causing concern and worry among the local community and I want to reassure people that we are doing all we can to prevent further disorder and bring those who have been involved to justice.
"I would also like to appeal to the community to refrain from speculating about the incidents on social media, as this could potentially jeopardise our investigation. We are currently following up on a number of lines of enquiry and what I can say at this stage is that the assault back in June is not being treated as a hate crime."
Mr Osman said: "What we are appealing for is the community to work with us. "This is a very important time in the calendar for the Muslim community. It's the period coming up to the pilgrimage of Haaj and over this weekend, there will be Eid celebrations as well.
"It should be a joyous occasion. It should be an occasion where families and communities can come together and that's what we are asking. We are asking for you to come together - work with us and support us.
"Many people are working with us to try and bring calm. The perpetrators will be arrested and justice will be served in an appropriate manner. But you have to give space for the right investigation to take place. That takes time. It is about accuracy. It is about doing things in the right way. Please work with us. That's our appeal.
"We are here to help you. We would appeal to our elders and young people to support us. Please share information with us."
The victim miraculously did not suffer any broken bones in the assault and a CT scan is said to have come back clear. However, he has been complaining of blurred vision and severe headaches since the incident.
Councillor Jean Stretton, Oldham council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods at Oldham Council, said: "While that investigation takes place, I would please ask people to stay calm and allow the police to do their work, so those responsible can be brought to justice. The most important thing for all of us in Oldham is the safety of everyone in our communities.
"It is important that this horrific attack does not divide us. It is also crucial that anyone who may have information relating to this crime speaks directly with the police."
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