Two men arrested in ‘hate crime’ probe after mothers and children attacked

Two men arrested in ‘hate crime’ probe after mothers and children attacked

Two men have been arrested after a mother was punched and her disabled child verbally abused in a city centre.

The men, aged 27 and 28, are from Stockport and have been arrested on suspicion of assault and committing a hate-motivated public order offence, Greater Manchester Police said.

Two mothers and three children – a five-month-old baby, a girl aged three and a 10-year-old disabled girl in a wheelchair – were attacked during a day out in Manchester.

Police received a report that the disabled girl was shouted at by two men outside Boots in Market Street, under the Arndale food court, on the afternoon of August 20.

Following the abuse, the mothers went to the nearby McDonald’s in St Ann’s Square – but the men involved in the Market Street incident arrived at the restaurant and once again began shouting derogatory comments and threatening violence, police said.

One of the mothers was punched in the face and a drink was thrown.

The victims do not have any visible scars, but were left traumatised, the force added.

The arrests on Wednesday followed a police appeal.

Inspector Jon Middleton said: “We have had an overwhelming response from the public and I want to thank every single person who has contacted police with information.

“What happened to these women and their children is utterly despicable. No one should ever be treated like this and we will continue to make Manchester a safe and enjoyable city to live in and visit.”

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