POLICE IN MANCHESTER are investigating a possible hate crime after two teenagers wearing Goth clothing were assaulted.
One of the victims, a boy, was kicked and punched 17 times in just over 60 seconds. The second victim, a girl, was punched in the head.
The assault was carried out by three teenage girls who, police said, acted without provocation.
The attack happened outside a newsagents in Stockport on Tuesday night, but police have just now appealed for information as neither of the victims have come forward to police.
The attack only stopped when a member of the public passing by on a bike intervened, and the offenders left the scene.
Greater Manchester Police have asked the teenage boy to contact them so they can find out if the attack was a hate crime motivated by the clothing the victims were wearing.
“Clearly we have to consider that as an aggravating factor,” said police spokesperson Steve Watson.
Police in the UK have treated attacks on anyone belonging to an alternative sub-culture – such as goths, punks, or metallers – as a hate crime since last year.
A hate crime is one in which a crime is committed against someone solely because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, or membership of some other social group.
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