Police investigating sexual assault and woman being punched at Northern Quarter bar in Manchester city centre

Police are appealing for information as they investigate a sexual assault and a woman being seriously injured after being punched at a bar in Manchester city centre.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are looking into reports of two incidents in which young women were the victims at a venue in the Northern Quarter. The force has issued a picture of a man wearing a white T-shirt it wants to speak to in connection with the investigation.

Police are hoping that anyone who saw what happened, or may have captured any of the incidents on video, will come forward as soon as possible.

What are the incidents being investigated?

GMP says that the incidents took place at The Freemount Bar on Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter between 11pm and 11.30pm on Sunday 29 August.

The police say the incident began when two men approached a group of women on a night out in the area and attempted to talk to them. One of the men is then suspected to have sexually assaulted a 23-year-old woman in the group. Police say the two men then continued to talk to the group of women.

One of the women then began to question the men and stated they were not interested in them, and the men then proceeded to walk away. As they did so, one woman from the group pretended to pour drink over the one of the men’s heads. The man then turned around and punched a 22-year-old woman, causing her serious injuries.

A report of what had taken place in the bar was made to GMP the following day and an investigation is ongoing, the police have said.

Where is the police investigation up to and what are officers asking the public to do?

GMP has issued a picture of a young man wearing a white t-shirt and says it would like to speak to him in connection with this incident. The force is also appealing to the public for any information that could help the investigation.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or who may have CCTV footage or mobile phone footage from the area on that evening is being asked to contact GMP on 0161 856 4275, quoting log number 1494 for the date 29/08/2022. Alternatively, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.