Two Afghan asylum seekers have been charged over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl, which has left a small Midlands town reeling in shock, the Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, has been charged with the rape of the underage girl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
A second man, Mohammad Kabir, also 23, has been 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 have told the 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’.
One local who contacted us accused the police of a ‘cover-up’, in an effort to suppress information which the public have a right to know.
He said police feared Nuneaton would face similar violent protests that took place outside a migrant hotel in Epping, Essex, last month, after it emerged an asylum seeker staying there was charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.
The source said: ‘They’re hushing it up because they don’t want an Epping situation on their hands.’
But last night, Warwickshire Police 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.’