Anger is growing over a ‘cover-up’ after two Afghan asylum seekers were charged with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl, but police advised authorities not to reveal their background.
Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was charged with the rape of the girl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
While a second man, Mohammad Kabir, also 23, was charged with aiding and abetting rape, as well as strangulation and kidnap of the girl, who is now receiving specialist care.
Despite the huge interest the incident has caused in Nuneaton, sources told the Daily Mail on Sunday that Warwickshire Police advised local councillors and officials not to reveal the asylum seeker background of the two suspects, for fear of ‘inflaming community tensions’.
Now Reform MP, Lee Anderson, has taken to social media to express his outrage at the handling of the situation.
Writing on X he said: ‘Trying to cover up again.’
His anger was matched by the leader of his party, Nigel Farage, who said last night: ‘I am afraid, police and elected officials are acting against the British people.’
It comes as the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Andy Cooke, warned that there is ‘every possibility’ of a repeat of the 2024 summer riots amid deepening divisions in communities.
CCTV image that appears to show someone who resembles the man who has been charged with a girl
Nuneaton town centre, Warwickshire. Questions are being asked of police as to why the backgrounds of the suspects were kept hidden
Local councillor George Finch also waded in, saying: ‘Yesterday, I wrote to urge the Home Secretary and the Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police to disclose the immigration statuses of the two men charged in connection with the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton on July 22.’
Despite this, Warwickshire Police has defended its position, saying in a statement: ‘Where relevant, sensitive information around locations, details of the crime and policing activity to catch offenders can be shared, with a warning that this is sensitive or confidential information and disclosure by those being briefed could affect future court hearings.’
One local who contacted the Daily Mail also accused the police of a ‘cover-up’ in an effort to suppress information which the public have a right to know.
Mulakhil, who crossed the Channel on a small boat, allegedly raped the victim on Cheverel Street in Nuneaton, between 8.30 – 9.45pm on Tuesday, July 22.
The Mail on Sunday has obtained CCTV from a resident’s house near Cheverel Road which appears to show a man walking with a girl.
Warwickshire Police said Mulakhil was arrested four days after the incident and charged the following day.
He appeared before Coventry Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with two counts of vaginal and oral rape of the victim.
Mulakhil has been remanded in custody to appear before Warwick Crown Court on August 26.
Kabir was arrested on Thursday, and charged with aiding and abetting rape of the 12-year-old, as well as strangulation and kidnap.
He appeared before Coventry Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, and was remanded in custody until his appearance before Warwick Crown Court on August 26.
Warwickshire Police said in a statement: ‘We continue to appeal for witnesses who were in the Cheverel Street area between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Tuesday 22 July and who saw anything of interest to please come forward.’
Now Reform MP, Lee Anderson, has taken to social media to express his outrage at the handling of the situation branding it a ‘cover-up’
In recent months, other asylum seekers living in tax-payer-funded accommodation have been charged with serious sexual offences across the country
Inquiries by the MoS in Nuneaton revealed that both Mulakhil and Kabir lived in two rented houses of multiple occupation (HMO) about 70 yards from each other on adjoining streets.
Both properties are managed by Serco, which has accommodated around five asylum seekers in each house. Serco has a £1.9billion contract with the Home Office to house asylum seekers across the country.
When the MoS contacted the owner of the property Mulakhil lived in, she said: ‘I don’t know anything because Serco manage the house completely.’
When we asked Serco if they were aware of Mulakhil and Kabir, the company said in a statement: ‘We do not confirm individual addresses, nor the names of people in properties we manage.’
Gorwan Muhammad Ali, 27, an Iraqi Kurd who lives in the same house as Kabir, said: ‘I have not seen Kabir for a few days. The police have come round the house. Kabir came to this country to work.’
Ali added that all residents in the house get their bills paid by Serco, and are given £49 per week as spending money.
Last night, councillors from the Tory party, as well as Labour and Reform – which controls Warwickshire County Council – said they did not know much about the incident, despite the huge interest.
They blamed the police for not sharing any information with them.
But a source told the MoS certain councillors and officials were informed by the police about the incident, and were advised not to reveal to the public that the two people charged were asylum seekers.
The source said police feared the revelation could cause tensions in the community.
A group of migrants is brought to Dover Marina from a UK Border Force vessel following small boat incidents in the English Channel in Dover on 17 July
The man, who did not want to be identified, said: ‘It is horrific what’s happened. But even though the police have done door-to-door enquiries and put out an announcement about the rape charge, they are refusing to say the details of who they are investigating or their background.’
Warwickshire Police said in their statement: ‘We work to hold offenders to account and will always do everything in our power to present a robust case to the courts and protect the integrity of court proceedings.
‘Once someone is charged with an offence, we follow national guidance. This guidance does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status.
‘As our investigation progresses, the victim remains at the forefront of our focus, and we will continue to work with our partners – providing updates and working alongside the people of Nuneaton.’
In recent months, other asylum seekers living in tax-payer-funded accommodation have been charged with serious sexual offences across the country.
In some cases, local politicians have accused their council and the police of a ‘cover-up’, by trying to keep incidents secret, for fear they will inflame community tensions.
