Three men have been charged with a total of 46 offences following a Greater Manchester Police investigation into alleged non recent rape and sexual abuse in Bury.
They are due to appear at Manchester Magistrates Court today, Wednesday 22 July.
Greater Manchester Police said the charges follow Operation Sky, a complex investigation into allegations of child sexual exploitation in Bury.
The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 1996 and 2003 and involve 10 girls who were aged between 12 and 16 at the time, according to police.
Ashfaq Khan, aged 46, of Bury, has been charged with 36 counts of rape of a girl under the age of 16, one count of attempted rape of a girl under the age of 16, one count of indecent assault and one count of false imprisonment.
Qamar Jehangeer, aged 44, of Bolton, has been charged with four counts of rape of a girl under the age of 16 and two counts of false imprisonment.
Zaheer Iqbal, aged 52, of Accrington, has been charged with four counts of rape of a girl under the age of 16.
All three men are due to appear before Manchester Magistrates Court on Wednesday 22 July.
Greater Manchester Police said officers are working with trauma informed support services to safeguard those affected and that supporting their safety and wellbeing remains a priority.
Anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted, or knows someone who has, is encouraged to report it to the police or seek support through specialist organisations. Support is available from Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Greater Manchester Rape Crisis and We Are Survivors.
Criminal proceedings are active. The defendants have been charged and have not entered pleas. They are entitled to a fair trial.
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