A man has been arrested following an attack on a Sikh leader in Manchester's Northern Quarter. The 62-year-old victim suffered a serious brain injury and has not been able to talk since the incident.
Following a major appeal for information in the Manchester Evening News - and numerous appeals from Greater Manchester Police - detectives were questioning a suspect on Wednesday evening (September 7).
The man, 28, has been arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault. GMP earlier released CCTV footage of the incident on June 23.
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Tonight (Wednesday, September 7) the force released a statement. It read: "Following an appeal for assistance from the public, a 28-year-old man was arrested earlier today (7 September 2022), on suspicion of section 20 assault in connection with an attack on a Sikh Priest in Manchester City Centre.
"Just before 6.30pm on Thursday 23rd June 2022, officers were called by the North West Ambulance Service to a report of a man found unconscious in the road on Tib Street.
"CCTV enquiries revealed that the victim had been assaulted by an unknown male close to the junction with Hilton Street. The offender then fled the scene on foot, turning right onto Oldham Street.
"The victim was left unconscious in the middle of the road, before being taken to hospital where he has since remained.
"The suspect remains in custody this evening for questioning."
CCTV footage captured the victim walking along Hilton Street, onto Tib Street. He was then attacked.
He can be seen lying motionless on the floor. He suffered a serious brain injury and has not spoken a word since.
As well as his religious commitments, the victim also worked in textiles to help support his family and give his children the opportunities he never had. He has lived in the region for almost four decades.
The family of the victim, who lives in Greater Manchester, said in a statement last week: "On June 23, 2022, our loving and caring husband/father, a 62-year-old Sikh priest, had his life tragically altered forever. A devoted husband and father who has lived, worked and supported a community in a city he has loved for 37 years and now cannot even leave the hospital.
"He worked long hours every day to help his children live the life he never got to and make sure we were raised to help and inspire future generations, raising a teacher, a pharmacist and a soon-to-be doctor."
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