Brutal CCTV footage has been released of a man being kicked and stamped on in an unprovoked assault as he lay in a pool of blood on a tram platform.

The 49-year-old man's head was repeatedly kicked after he was knocked unconscious on the platform at the Metrolink station in Chadderton, Greater Manchester.

His attackers – described as Asian males aged 15 to 18 – returned on three occasions to continue the attack.

They only ran off when a tram driver and passengers travelling in the opposite direction forced open the doors and ran to help.

Police are treating the incident - at around 9.36pm on 8 March - as attempted murder and say it is "pretty incredible" the man survived and is now recovering.


Detective sergeant John Coleman said: "Not only did these men target an innocent man for no apparent reason, they subjected him to a sustained and brutal attack and the footage is absolutely shocking.

Image: The attack happened at Freehold Metrolink stop on Block Lane in Chadderton

"How anyone could kick a defenceless man in the head as he lay unconscious is almost unbelievable but for them to return on three separate occasions to continue their assault and then leave him bleeding on the platform is beyond comprehension."

Transport for Greater Manchester's Metrolink boss, Danny Vaughan, called it a "sickening and sustained attack" and said there had been a "spike" in crime and antisocial behaviour in the Oldham area recently.

People travelling on the tram that stopped on the opposite tracks at the Freehold Metrolink platform and have video of the incident are urged to contact detectives.

Anyone else who has information can contact police on 0161 856 8267, quoting reference number 2239 of 08/03/18, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.