21/04/2015

Police Arrest Second 'Vigilante' Over Wigan Attacks

A second man has been arrested in connection with two assaults on suspected paedophiles in the Wigan area.

It follows the arrest of a man on Saturday by Greater Manchester Police after two men reported being attacked by a group of men.

Police report that a 31-year-old man had reported being attacked in a church car park in Atherton last Friday. His attackers accused him of having arranged online to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old. Police subsequently arrested the man on suspicion of grooming.

A second man reported being attacked in similar circumstance on Saturday afternoon in Market Place in Wigan.

Again the attackers accused the man of attempting to meet a young girl. The man was arrested on similar charges.

The two men claimed that their attackers had demanded money under threat of posting videos of the attacks on the internet.

GMP have now arrested two so-called 'vigilante paedophile hunters', aged 25 and 53, on suspicion of assault and blackmail.

GMP have asked anyone who witnessed the attacked to call police on 0161 856 7124 or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

(MH/CD)

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