Two 17-year-old boys have been charged in connection with an attack at a Metrolink station in north Manchester.
One of the 17-year-old boys has been charged with section 18 assault and both boys have been charged with one count of affray, one count of section 47 assault and two counts of section 39 assault.
The pair have been remanded into custody and appeared at Manchester Youth Court yesterday, Friday 11 September 2015.
No further action will be taken against a third 17-year-old boy who was arrested in connection with this incident.
On Saturday 5 September 2015 at approximately 11.30pm, a group of one boy and three men were waiting for a tram at Bowker Vale Metrolink stop in north Manchester, when they were verbally and physically assaulted.
A 17-year-old boy suffered a serious head injury and remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
Two 18-year-old men were taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries, but have since been discharged.
Commenting on the attack, Transport for Greater Manchester’s Metrolink Director, Peter Cushing, said: “I am appalled at the brutal and senseless assault of a young man and his friends at the Bowker Vale tram stop and the verbal and physical assault of another innocent man at Monsall station.
“Both incidents, it appears, were fuelled by hate and for a person to be attacked because of their race, religion or sexuality is inexcusable.
“As in society, our passengers should be free to go about their business without the worry of verbal and physical assault from an intolerant minority and we will do everything we can to support these police investigations.
“All trams and stations are equipped with CCTV so people should be warned that if they do step outside the law their actions and faces will be captured.
“Officers from the Travel Safe Unit will be patrolling these areas to deter further offences and offer reassurance to passengers and if anyone has information about these offences I’d encourage them to talk to the police.”
Peter’s comments come following two hate crimes at Metrolink stops this week: a 17-year-old boy and his friends were attacked at Bowker Vale stop on Saturday while, in a separate incident, a man was verbally and physically abused at the Monsall stop on Tuesday evening.
