Three arrested over alleged racist abuse on tram in Manchester

Filmed on a mobile phone, the footage appears to show three male passengers shouting at a passenger to “Get back to Africa” as the tram travelled through central Manchester on Tuesday morning. F*****g get off the tram now.

“Get deported”, one of the suspects can be seen saying while standing in the back of the tram.

When asked whether he thought the Brexit vote could have been behind the alleged behaviour, Juan said: “I think there was an undertone there before, but I think the result maybe has pushed people to somehow justify that they think it’s ok to act out in this way, which obviously it’s not”.

He was demanding the other man to get off the Manchester tram and threatens deportation to the other side.

“I could tell from other’s people’s faces on the tram they didn’t really appreciate the language they were using”.

The man responds: “You are extremely ignorant and not very intelligent, you know that?”

“While Greater Manchester Police have said they have not seen an increase in reports of hate crime over the weekend, we are now starting to hear stories of people being abused due to their race, religion or nationality”.

As the tram pulled into Market Street one of the teenagers flicked a drink, believed to be beer, in the direction of the man one of them was reportedly abusing which covered several passengers and a child in a pram.

As the youths got off, the victim said to himself: “Seven years in the military”, as other commuters told the three, “You are an absolute disgrace”. Eighteen? Nineteen? I’ve probably been here longer than you… “A disgrace to England”, a woman shouted as the two exited the lightrail at a stop.

“To England”, she says, her voice quivering.

The police have called it “a disgusting display of abuse which quite frankly has no place in society” – and have urged eyewitnesses to come forward. All hate incidents are treated with the utmost severity and this behavior will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester.

The video captures the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty that hovers over the U.K.in the wake of the so-called Brexit vote, as hate crimes are said to have spiked across the country, targeting mostly immigrants and domestic-born British citizens of foreign heritage.

If anyone has any information please report it to police immediately on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.