*VIDEO IN THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE*
Updated 5.55pm
POLICE IN MANCHESTER have arrested three in connection with a hate incident in Manchester City Centre.
Video footage showed three youths, who appeared to be drinking beer, screaming at a man on a tram during the early morning commute today shouting “go home to Africa!”
Two men aged 20 and 18 and a 16-year-old boy have been detained on suspicion of affray.
They are being held in police custody for questioning.
It comes after there was an increase in reported racist incidents that have occurred in the wake of the UK’s decision to leave the EU last week.
Chief Inspector Gareth Parkin of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: “We are aware of a video of a hate incident that has surfaced online this morning.
This is a disgusting display of abuse which quite frankly has no place in society.
All hate incidents are treated with the utmost severity and this behaviour will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester.
Police released part of the footage from the incident and urged anyone who recognised the men to come forward.
The video, which was widely shared on social media, showed the men calling another passenger a “dirty little immigrant” and shouting “Get back to Africa” and “Immigrants get deported”.
The victim could be heard responding, “How old are you, 18 or 19? I have been here longer than you. You are extremely ignorant and not very intelligent.”
The abuse escalated when the youths approached the men and appeared to throw some beer at him.
Other commuters stood up for the man, telling the young men they were “disgusting” and “a disgrace” to England.
Channel 4 News reported that the woman who videoed the incident said the abuse started when the victim asked the men to stop using bad language.
There has been a wave of hate crime and racist incidents since the Brexit result last week.
In Huntington, Cambridgeshire, signs have been posted through the letter boxes of Polish families, stating, “Leave the EU, no more Polish vermin”.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police in Hammersmith and Fulham are investigating after offensive graffiti was daubed on the front of a Polish Social and Cultural Association.
Many people have taken to social media to share their stories and express concern over the rise in attacks.
- Additional reporting from Michael Sheils McNamee
- First published 3.45pm
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