A Muslim family in Greater Manchester has been left traumatised and fearing for their safety after discovering a pig's head mounted on the gates of their home in what police are describing as an 'appalling' hate crime. The disturbing incident, which occurred on the morning of January 9, has sparked a major investigation and widespread community concern.
A Gruesome Discovery on a School Run
Father-of-two Camran Butt, 41, made the horrifying discovery while taking his nine-year-old son and four-year-old daughter to school. Initially mistaking the object for debris left by Storm Goretti, the family quickly realised they were confronting something far more sinister.
'We noticed something on the floor and thought it could have been from the storm,' Mr Butt recounted. 'But then the kids said there was a dead animal in the garden.' The health and social care company director immediately recognised the significance of the pig's head, given that Islam strictly forbids the consumption or handling of pork.
CCTV Captures Hooded Attackers
Security cameras captured the moment two hooded men approached the family's gates in the early hours. The footage shows them unwrapping the pig's head from a bag before mounting it on a spike at the top of the gates. The entire operation took approximately twenty seconds before the perpetrators disappeared into the night.
One of the men appeared to be carrying an object that Mr Butt believes was bleach, adding another layer of concern to what he describes as a carefully planned attack. 'It wasn't like it was just kids messing around with graffiti - this was targeted and professional,' he stated. 'It was very frightening when you look back on it.'
Family Left Shaken and Unsafe
The impact on the Butt family has been severe. Mr Butt's wife was reportedly 'distraught' and suffered what he described as 'a bit of a panic attack' after viewing the CCTV footage. The family felt so unsafe that they hired a security guard to patrol outside their property overnight for an entire week.
'My wife was shaking and crying,' Mr Butt revealed. 'I didn't want the kids to look at it, so we tried to get them off to school. I told them it was a dead pigeon. But I knew what it was straight away.'
Police Response and Community Support
Greater Manchester Police responded within fifteen minutes of being contacted and have confirmed they are treating the incident as a hate crime. Chief Inspector Lisa Devitt emphasised the seriousness of the attack: 'This was an appalling and deliberate act against a family home - no one should be subjected to incidents of this manner.'
Despite the trauma, Mr Butt noted that the community response has been 'amazing', with neighbours reaching out to check on the family's wellbeing. Born and raised in Greater Manchester, he reflected: 'I had a bit of racism in school, but I've never experienced anything like this before. We're not easily identifiable Muslims - my wife doesn't wear a headscarf or anything like that.'
Ongoing Investigation and Appeal
Police have stepped up patrols in the community to provide reassurance and are urging anyone with information to come forward. The incident has been logged as reference 877 of 09.01.26, and information can be reported via 101, through the police website, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Chief Inspector Devitt reiterated the force's commitment: 'We are treating this incident as a hate crime and are doing everything we can to find those responsible.' The investigation continues as authorities work to identify the two hooded men captured on CCTV during what appears to have been a calculated attack on a family's home and religious identity.
