Police are appealing for information after a teenage girl was racially abused and spat at by a stranger on a tram.
The girl, 17, had been travelling towards Oldham from Manchesters Victoria station when the young male carried out a horrific and unprovoked attack.
He had first confronted her mother before turning his attention to the teenager when she tried to intervene, a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said.
The boy then racially abused her and spat at her before he left the tram with a group of teenagers he had been travelling with at the Newton Heath and Moston stop.
He has been described as black, around 5ft 6in, in his mid-teens with an afro style haircut.
Police say he was wearing a black hooded top with a hat underneath the hood.
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The force has now launched a hate crime investigation after the incident occurred on March 30 shortly after 6.30pm.
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Chief Inspector Denise Pye, of GMPs City of Manchester division, said: This was a horrific and unprovoked attack on a family who were enjoying their Saturday evening together before being subjected to a barrage of racial abuse.
People should be free to go about their lives without abuse and hate and we are treating this incident incredibly seriously. Eradicating hate crime will always be one of our top priorities as there is absolutely no tolerance of hate in our communities.
Our detectives are currently supporting the victims at this incredibly distressing time and our investigation is progressing at speed. Forensic enquiries are ongoing and officers are working alongside Metrolink to obtain the best quality CCTV.
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