Tram stop thug kicks passenger on to the tracks

HORRIFIC MOMENT ON METROLINK PLATFORM CAPTURED ON CCTV

THE horrific moment a masked thug kicked a passenger off a platform on to Metrolink tracks has been captured on film.

The victim arrived to board a tram at Didsbury Village Station about 10.45pm on Friday, October 13, when a gang followed him on to the platform.

A girl walked on the tracks and when the 23-year-old victim offered a hand to lift her back on to the platform, a man kicked him on to the tracks.

Police say that as he clambered back on to the platform, he was threatened with a metal bar and a wine bottle, which was smashed on the floor, before he was able to flee.

The victim did not suffer any serious injuries but was badly shaken.

About 10 minutes later a pensioner suffered a heart attack after being battered with a metal bar.

The 66-year-old victim of the second incident was attacked as he walked home along Beaver Road, Didsbury. He was taken to hospital with head injuries but suffered a heart attack as a direct result of the assault. He is now recovering at home.

Police have released CCTV footage of the station attack, as well as of three people they want to speak to in connection with the incident.

Detective Constable Phil Whiting of GMP’s City of Manchester Team, said: “We need to speak to these people as a matter of urgency so I want people to really study the footage – their faces, the way they are holding themselves and how they are acting.” CCTV pictures of three people police want to speak to in connection with the attack

The man who kicked the victim on to the tracks was described as white and slim with wavy dark hair.

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 6153, quoting reference number 2533 of 13/10/17, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.