Salford Under Siege: Family Alleges Police Failures Amidst Relentless Hate Attacks

A family residing in Salford, including a Kurdish couple who fled Syria over a decade ago, is feeling increasingly compelled to abandon their home due to persistent and aggressive harassment from a group of local teenagers. For nearly two years, this family, comprised of a pharmacist and a doctor, has endured a barrage of abuse, including eggs and rocks being thrown at their residence. The attacks often involve racist and Islamophobic slurs, such as “you f****** Muslim c****,” leading the family to believe they are specifically targeted.

Aram, 35, whose name has been changed for his privacy, expressed profound distress, stating, “I don’t want to leave my home, it’s an amazing area. But I feel I’m being forced out by these people who just have no shame. It keeps happening again and again and again.” He and his wife initially settled in Fallowfield before securing a council house in Salford through a scheme for highly-skilled workers at Salford Hospital, where they have lived happily for five years until the harassment began.

Footage reviewed by the LDRS depicts a group of approximately six youngsters, often attempting to conceal their identities with masks and arriving on bikes, engaging in these acts of vandalism and intimidation. Aram recounted a particularly disturbing incident where his then four-year-old son was looking out the front window when the teenagers spotted him and began throwing rocks and eggs directly at the window. This has led to significant worry for his children, including a four-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son, making him reluctant for them to play unsupervised in the future.

The family’s distress is compounded by their perception of the police’s response. Aram feels that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is not taking the issue seriously enough. He reported that despite numerous complaints, “nothing happens.” He cited instances where police only spoke to the teenagers without engaging their parents, and another occasion where officers suggested telling a nearby supermarket “not to sell them any eggs.” Aram believes the problem lies not with the supermarket but with the perpetrators and their upbringing, stating, “This is how their families educate them. It’s a reflection of what’s going on at home.”

In response to the allegations, a GMP spokesperson confirmed that reports of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage at the address have been received. They stated that officers have supported the victims, conducted enquiries, secured and circulated CCTV images to aid in identification, and continue to carry out high-visibility patrols in the area. GMP assured that investigations are ongoing and they are collaborating with partners to identify those responsible and address the reported issues. Despite these assurances, Aram and his wife are now actively seeking a new home far from Salford, acknowledging the considerable pressure this move will place on them due to their local employment.