Warwickshire Police Accused of Covering Up Afghan Asylum Seekers' Child Rape Charges

Police in Warwickshire have been accused of covering up the asylum seeker status of two Afghan men, Ahmad Mulakhil and Mohammad Kabir, charged with the rape, kidnapping, and strangulation of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton. Local officials, including George Finch, leader of Warwickshire County Council and a Reform UK member, have criticized the police for suppressing this information to avoid inflaming community tensions, warning that this cover-up risks sparking public disorder. Both suspects live in houses of multiple occupation managed by Serco, a contractor running the government’s asylum accommodation scheme. The police defended their decision, citing national guidance that prohibits sharing ethnicity or immigration status after charges are laid. The controversy echoes previous grooming gang scandals and recent protests at migrant hotels, highlighting ongoing community tensions over asylum seekers. Finch has called on the Home Office to remove asylum seekers from such accommodations in Warwickshire to prevent further unrest.