Three people from Salford have been released on police bail after a shocking racial attack on a tram was captured on video.
A clip of the incident taken by an anonymous Metrolink commuter surfaced on Twitter on Tuesday morning and quickly went viral, being picked up by national and international newspapers and broadcasters.
An American army veteran, Juan Jasso, was racially abused when he stepped in to stop three youths shouting racist insults and intimidating passengers on a 7.30am commuter tram heading from Oldham to Manchester city centre.
Footage captures him being called “an immigrant” and being told to “go back to Africa”.
Mr Jasso, who is from West Yorkshire, served as a signals intelligence analyst for the US Army. He has lived in the UK for 18 years.
He is shown responding to the insults by calling the youths “not very intelligent” and “a disgrace to England”.
One 16-year-old boy from Salford handed himself in to police after the video clip was posted on multiple newspaper websites.
Two others, age 18 and 20, were arrested in the Salford precinct area.
All three were arrested on suspicion of affray which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
The 16 and 18-year-old were bailed on Wednesday while the 20-year-old was released on Thursday morning.
Chief Inspector Gareth Parkin of GMP’s City of Manchester Team, said: “All hate incidents are treated with the utmost severity and this behaviour will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester.”
If anyone has any information please report it to police immediately on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
