Two men arrested over unrelated attacks at Wigan asylum seeker hotel

Locals reported a large number of police attending the Britannia in Standish on the evening of Monday October 2 and it was then mentioned on social media that there had also been a police presence there 24 hours earlier.

It has since emerged that a woman was attacked on the Sunday evening and a man the following night.

Their current condtions are not known although officers say that neither’s injuries appeared to be life-threatening.

Police patrols have since been stepped up at the hotel which has been the focal point for much debate since it began accommodating up to 200 asylum-seekers eight years ago.

People from across the political divide have objected for varying reasons to the use of the Almond Brook Road premises by the Home Office and Serco for such purposes.

And it has been back in the news again recently after plans were unveiled to use the Macdonald Kilhey Court hotel on the other side of Standish for housing immigrants too.

With regard to this week’s incidents, police issued the following statement: “Greater Manchester Police are continuing to investigate two unconnected incidents of assault on Almond Brook Road in Standish, Wigan from the evenings of Sunday and Monday October 1 and 2 2023.

“A 23-year-old man and 28-year-old man have been arrested in connection with these incidents and subsequently released under investigation.

“Thankfully, injuries sustained in both incidents are believed not to be life-threatening, whilst local neighbourhood patrols continue to be in place in the area.

“Anyone with information regarding these incidents to help officers with their enquiries are asked to call 101 quoting incident 2803 of 01/10/2023 or 3372 of 02/10/2023.”