Two Afghan asylum seekers have been charged over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in quiet Warwickshire town
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.'
Mulakhil, who crossed the Channel on a small boat, allegedly raped the victim in the Cheverel Street of Nuneaton, between 8.30 – 9.45pm on Tuesday, July 22.
The MoS has obtained CCTV footage from a resident's house near Cheverel Road which appears to show a man walking with the girl, who is white.
The chilling footage was captured as the pair walked past the property at 8pm, around half-an-hour before the victim was allegedly subjected to the horrific assault.
Warwickshire Police said Mulakhil was arrested four days after the incident last Saturday, 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 yesterday (sat), and was remanded in custody until his appearance before Warwick Crown Court on August 26.
Warwickshire Police said in a statement: 'At this stage, we do not believe there to be anyone else involved but 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.'
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 she was 'sickened to the stomach' when hearing about the incident.
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 assailants were asylum seekers.
The source said police feared the revelation could cause tensions in the community.
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.'
Last night, Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform, which runs Warwickshire County Council, said: 'I am afraid, police and elected officials are acting against the British people.'
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.
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