A three-part series uncovers the details an axe attack that left an 18-year-old victim with his hand almost severed.
Linked to the attack was a notorious gang located in the Rochdale area known as the ''Adam'' OGC (Organised Crime Group).
Who is Adam OCG gang member Habibur Rahman?
In 2019, four men were jailed for their part in a brutal gang attack that left a tree surgeon with life changing injuries after being hit with an axe.
Two years prior, in 2017, the victim, then aged 18, was one of four workmates set upon on Church Road, Newbold, on the afternoon of October 17, by a gang of up to 20 men.
The 18-year-old had his hand chopped off in an ''appalling'' attack carried out by an armed mob sparked by a road rage row, a court heard.
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According to reports, the gang had been summoned by a man named Habibur Rahman after he was told to calm down by one of four tree surgeons working in the area.
At the time of the attack, Rahman was a manager of his family's restaurant the Baytree in Blackley, Manchester.
On October 17, 2017, the victim had stepped in to defend an elderly woman who was abused for her driving, the BBC reports.
However, Rahman was said to have felt ''disrespected'' and as a result assembled up to 20 men for the attack.
One of the mob removed the weapon from the waistband of his trousers and attacked the tree surgeon, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
The court heard how the gang member wielded the axe twice - first slashing the victim in the chest, shattering ribs and causing a collapsed lung.
Describing the second blow, Tim Storrie, prosecuting, said: "He followed up with a 360 degree spin of his arm, an act which was doubtless employed to enhance the speed and devastation of the attack.
"The blow itself was aimed at the victim’s head.
"He was dimly aware at this stage of the weeping of blood down into his waistband.
"He was turning his body, attempting to leave the scene.
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"Through good fortune, he said he realised the axe was above him aiming for his head.
"He put his arm up to defend himself and the blade essentially severed his arm at the wrist."
The assault almost completely severed his arm above the wrist and he nearly died because of the amount of blood he lost.
After witnessing the attack on his colleague and fearing for their safety, one of the workmen started the motor of a chainsaw in a bid to scare the attackers off.
As a result, the gang members fled the scene.
Following the brutal attack, the victim staggered away from the scene before collapsing.
He was later taken to hospital for treatment.
Who are the other Adam OCG gang members?
Mohammed Sajid, also known as ''Skinny'' was the gang member responsible for delivering the brutal blows.
In October 2019, he was found guilty of section 18 wounding following a four-week trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
He was sentenced to 18 years behind bars.
Judge John Potter told him: "This was a savage and barbaric act against a person who the evidence at trial suggests was acting as a peacemaker."
Rahman, who was described as the instigator of the attack, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for conspiracy to commit violent disorder after the court heard he used a knuckleduster to punch one of the other tree surgeons in the face, and as a result broke his nose.
The OGC member claimed he was subjected to racist threats from the four tree surgeons.
However, sentencing, Judge Potter said this was a ''pack of lies''.
He added: "The fact that a mob could be mobilised so quickly and so heavily-armed is clear evidence in my judgement that you are each associated with gang activity."
Other members of the Adam OCG gang included Mohammed Zillur, Rahman's brother, and Arslan Ali.
Both were jailed for four years and three years.
They were also convicted of conspiracy to commit violent disorder.
How can I watch The Detectives: Taking Down an OCG?
A BBC series titled The Detectives: Taking Down an OCG documents the axe attack and the police operation that followed.
Episode one of the series airs on BBC Two tonight (Monday, October 30, 2023) at 9pm.
The following two instalments with then air on Tuesday and Wednesday.
However, all episodes are available to watch on the channels streaming service - BBC iPlayer.
